Gull ID

[Axel Hildebrandt]

I photographed this bird on Long Island this morning. Is this an immature Ring-billed Gull?

[Matthew Pontiff]

Interesting bird. The dark iris with red orbital ring made me think of California right off the bat. I've never seen a R-b with those features..

Matt

[Axel Hildebrandt]

Interesting bird. The dark iris with red orbital ring made me think of California right off the bat. I've never seen a R-b with those features..

Matt

Me neither, I have no idea what species this actually is. The red eye ring might be an indicator but I looked through my Sibley and can't find anything that looks more or less similar.

[Jen Howell]

Although the darker eye is consistent with a California Gull, the lack of the red spot on the bill plus the consideration of range makes me lean more towards a Juvi Ring-billed.

But I say this with no great certainty..

[Matthew Pontiff]

Finally got my hands on a gull book and I'd buy a sub-adult Ring-billed. Ive never seen it but they can have the red orbital ring and dark eyes.

Matt

[Axel Hildebrandt]

Finally got my hands on a gull book and I'd buy a sub-adult Ring-billed. Ive never seen it but they can have the red orbital ring and dark eyes.

Matt

Thanks, Matt! I guess I should get a gull book since all these different juvenile plumages can be quite confusing.

[Wayne Richardson]

Hi Axel

This is a Ringed-billed Gull by jizz & range. California Gull is a vagrant to the Atlantic coast with records for only 3 states, ie Virginia, Delaware & Florida.

The dark secondaries together with grey upper wing coverts, would put it in the 1st winter/1st summers range & the dark eye at that age is not unusual. A red orbital ring is more likely to found on older sub-adults though.

Cheers: Wayne

[Axel Hildebrandt]

Hi Axel

This is a Ringed-billed Gull by jizz & range. California Gull is a vagrant to the Atlantic coast with records for only 3 states, ie Virginia, Delaware & Florida.

The dark secondaries together with grey upper wing coverts, would put it in the 1st winter/1st summers range & the dark eye at that age is not unusual. A red orbital ring is more likely to found on older sub-adults though.

Cheers: Wayne

Thanks, Wayne! Much appreciated.