Glaucous-winged Gull near adult

Robust, heavily-built gull with large bill showing gonydeal expansion; bill was more prominent than Herring Gulls, as illustrated here. Forehead is long and sloped in this probable male. Small eye is placed rather superiorly in the face. Bill with significant dark coloration centrally suggesting a degree of immaturity, thus the label of "near adult"; I suspect this is either an advanced third-cycle bird or (perhaps more likely) a mildly "retarded" fourth-cycle individual. Coverts show a slight tinge of brownish tone but that may just relate to moderate wear on this messy bird. Note dark iris, usual with Glaucous-winged of this age (only a few show light irides).

One interesting tidbit about this sighting is that the only other record for Alabama was of an adult bird at the same site on almost the same day (4 Jan) in 2008!