Yellow legs, pale eye, and very dark ‘back’ equals just a few options in North America; Black-tailed Gull (would have a red bill tip in its 3rd cycle, and they aren’t really this dark-backed, nor are their legs really this yellow, they are more green), Yellow-footed (Imagine a Western Gull with a really big bill and yellow feet, does this look like a Western Gull?) and Lesser Black-backed. Hmm, yes it’s that easy!
Some might ask, “What about Kelp Gull?” Easily eliminated by size and shape up front. Then consider they don’t have eyes this pale or legs this yellow.


Let’s get crazy and consider something that has never occurred in the United States before just for fun:
Hueglin’s Gull? A bird of north central Siberia that winters on seacoasts in southwest Asia. Hueglin’s has/is at times considered conspecific with Lesser Black-backed, Herring and also sometimes with the Caspian Gull, interesting. One interesting note, Hueglin’s is thought to be a 3 cycle gull. So, it doesn’t have a plumage that looks like this. It attains near complete adult plumage in its second cycle, except that it has all dark (or with very limited white) primaries and a dark bill tip. Then in its 3rd cycle it attains definitive plumage. Now you just used your knowledge of the differences between 3 and 4 cycle birds’ plumage characteristics to rule out a North American first. Good Job!
Not likely that a bird from the south coast of Australia would show up in Virginia on its own but you never know. A Pacific Gull would have an all red bill tip and never has white in its primaries, though.

Virginia Beach VA
February 2011