I wonder if the hard core gull people out there can offer an opinion on this bird. The relatively smaller bill and reddish eye ring say "Iceland Gull" to me, however the wings don't seem to project enough beyond the tail and it seems a bit large to my mind (I know you can't tell from the photo but it appeared intermediate in size between "typical" Glaucous and Iceland Gulls). Here, by way of a bonus, is a typical flying away from the camera shot of Glaucous Gulls.
Help?
I wonder if the hard core gull people out there can offer an opinion on this bird. The relatively smaller bill and reddish eye ring say "Iceland Gull" to me,…
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4 responses
I’m no Gull expert but my gut reaction to this was Glaucous, shorter primary projection, depth of bill, headshape, size of gonydeal angle. Perhaps a female?
Thanks Alan, I thought as much but I was trying to make that eye ring (although the photo doesn’t show it well) into an Iceland Gull. I appreciate the thoughts on this.
I’m no gull expert, but it seems a bit too flat-headed for an Iceland. I also note that the Sibley Guide says some Glaucous Gulls can have a red orbital ring.
Thanks John. I had figured as much, and was trying to put too much into the eye ring. I usually see one or two Iceland Gulls here each year and have yet to find them. But it’s early.