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second winter Herring Gull smithsonianus Newby Island, Santa Clara Co., CA 22 Dec 1998 All photos by Mike Rogers, copyright 1998. comments by Steve Hampton

Fig 1) The adult gray back and scapulars (mixed with some brown) and brown greater coverts and tertials with variable marbling distinguish these as second year birds. Many second year Herrings have pale eyes already.

Fig 2) This bird still has an unusual amount of black in the bill.