first winter WESTERN GULLS, L.o.occidentalis

all photos courtesy of Ron Saldino, copyright 1997

Fig 1) Note the dark head, large bill, and solid outer greater coverts.

Fig 2 and 3) Note the dark greater coverts in flight, the negligable pale window on the inner primaries, and the solid dark tail.

Fig 4) Western, Yellow-footed, and Glaucous-winged Gulls are the only large gulls with solid tails in first winter plumage. All others (yes, including Herring smithsonianus) show some pale barring to the bases of the outer retrices, most easily visible from below. This is rare on Western Gulls.