Glaucous-winged Gull near adult

Flight shot demonstrating wing and tail patterns. Wing is basically all medium gray including the primaries. Primaries show a subtle white "string of pearls" typical of Glaucous-winged. Small white apical tips are present. Note that the subapical gray (between the white crescents and apical tips) is slightly darker than the rest of the primaries, but similar to the coverts and mantle. This pattern is well within the normal range for the species and should not indicate hybrid influence. (Glaucous-winged is notorious for hybridization with other species, especially Western Gull but others as well.)

Secondaries show a broad white bar. Tail is all white without dark immature markings.

One thing of interest in this photo is the presence of wing molt. A small gap is seen in the inner secondaries of both wings consistent with a late stage of molt (secondaries begin molt distally and proceed toward the body). On close inspection of the primaries, p5-p8 show more apical wear than other primaries, perhaps suggesting they are older. As prebasic molt in Glaucous-winged is usually completed by November or December, this may indicate either a delayed or arrested molt in this "shaggy" bird.