Yellow-footed Gull (livens)

Yellow-footed Gull
(livens)

IMAGES:

1) 1 second year and 1 near-adult

DESCRIPTION:

YELLOW-FOOTED GULL (24"-27"; 52"-56") livens

BILL SHAPE: large; very thick and blob-ended; 5x eye diameter; gon angle obvious; culmen w/ long curve to tip
HEAD SHAPE: rounded and smallish, but more elongated than Western w/ sloping forehead
WING EXTENSION: about bill length
POSTURE/HABITS:
	FIRST WINTER	SECOND WINTER	ADULT WINTER
BILL COLOR:	black w/ pale flesh base and tiny white tip	variable; generally pale yellow w/ square cut black tip or like adult; tiny pale tip; may have trace of gon spot	yellow to bright yellow w/ orange- red gon spot
LEG COLOR:	pale pink to yellowish-flesh	pale to bright yellow; some show trace of pink	bright yellow
IRIS/ORB RING:	dark to dull gold	pale gray; orb ring pale yellow	pale yellow to white; orb ring yellow, brighter in spring
HEAD:	mostly white w/ dark smudge before and around eye; light marks on rear crown; variable thick streaks on nape and neck sides (juv much darker)	mostly white w/ faint smudging around eye and rear crown; diffuse streaks on nape and neck sides	white all year
UNDERPARTS:	mostly white w/ scattered light smudging (juv with dark upper breast; sharply contrasting pale below)	mostly white	white
PRIMARIES (folded):	blackish	black	black w/ A-spots larger than eye, except A10, same size as eye
PRIMARIES (in flight):	blackish above and below	as adult but lacking A-spots and mirrors; more extensive black area, esp. on Pcovs	extensive black on outer Ps; large mirror on P10; very dark pattern from below
SECONDARIES (in flight):	blackish above and below w/ pale fringe	as adult	trailing edge about 1/2 bill length; quite dark from below; shows white skirt when standing
TERTIALS:	very dark g-b w/ large white tips	as adult	adult gray w/ white crescent about 2/3 bill length
GREATER COVERTS:	dark or faded solid g-b w/ pale fringe and subterm spot; inner feathers more spotted	mixed brown and adult gray	adult gray
LESSER & MED COVERTS:	med g-b w/ irreg pale markings, appearing muddy	adult gray w/ traces of brown	adult gray
SCAPULARS:	adult gray mixed w/ brown w/ white crescent about 1/3 bill length	as adult; may be mixed w/ brown; white cres. about 1/2 bill length	adult gray w/ white crescent about 1/2 bill length
BACK:	adult gray mixed w/ brown	as adult; may have trace of brown	adult gray is dark gray, similar to wymani
RUMP:	nearly all white	white	white
TAIL:	solid black w/ pale fringe; faintly mottled bases to outer retrices visible from below	nearly solid black w/ pale fringe and extensive white and mottled bases to outer retrices	white

The was table created by Steve Hampton and is intended to futher our knowledge of gull identification. Please email me at shampton@ospr.dfg.ca.gov if you have any suggestions for updating or improving this table. Thanks.