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Thomas Heinrich | profile | all galleries >> Birds >> Birds of North America >> Seabirds >> Gulls >> Mystery Gulls >> Gull #2 tree view | thumbnails | slideshow

Gull #2

Possible Iceland Gull?
Thomas Reservoir, Boulder Cty, CO
February 17, 2008
Smaller than neighboring Herring Gull, legs seem shorter, bill appears shorter & more slender, longer primary extension
Primaries more white than dark; grayish rather than blackish
Dark eye unusual, or supporting Thayer's?
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Thomas Heinrich24-Jan-2011 05:03
Nick,
I did not submit a report to the CRBC because of differing opinions about the ID of this gull. While I was leaning toward Kumlien's Iceland Gull, both Tony Leukering and Ted Floyd ID'd the gull as a Thayer's. Ted Floyd was present when I photographed gull #2. He ID'd it as a Thayer's as well, noting the dark eye.
It wasn't until I got home to inspect the photos that I questioned the markings, especially the primary pattern, color, and projection. --Thomas
Nick Komar23-Jan-2011 04:51
Thomas, I agree this is an adult Kumlien's Iceland Gull. The gray tones to the wingtips and restriction of dark gray to outer 5 primaries is too pale for Thayer's, which should have blackish extending to 6 outer primaries. Dark eye and small dark tip to outermost primary might suggest introgression of Thayer's Gull genes, perhaps a Kumlien's from the western part of its breeding range. Have you submitted this record to the CBRC? - Nick Komar
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