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This 2nd winter Herring Gull was on the ice pushed up against the south shore by the north wind.
WD: Juvenile Herring Gull. A Thayer's Gull would classically have lighter and shorter primaries, lighter tertials, rosier legs, a more checkered appearance on the wing coverts and probably less contrast between the coverts and scapulars. Juvenile Herring Gulls molt their scapulars earlier than
juvenile Thayer's Gulls. This gull has molted its scapulars (most of the visible back). The juvenal HG scapulars have a distinctive dark holly leaf pattern, missing on this bird. The new feathers are thicker and stronger. The head and body feathers will all be molted by the end of March. It looks
like the molt might have started on this bird with the face and front of the breast.
All images copyrighted: © Steven P. Davis; all rights reserved.