Help Me Identify a Bird

Re: Juvenile Gull

Curlybird — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 20:35:02 GMT

Great - thanks. With the adults, I try to ID by the markings on the bill but it's not really an option with the juveniles.

Re: Juvenile Gull

snowyowl — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 16:06:50 GMT

Curlybird:

Wow - that was fast! How do you identify these young gulls? Is it just from experience?

Gulls are one of the most difficult groups for everybody, both because some species are so similar, and because they have so many intermediate molts. Start with what's common in your range. It helps to get a photo which you can then later compare with references. An excellent reference is Gulls of the Americas by Howell & Dunn, a beautiful comprehensive book with hunderds of color plates. It deserves to be high on the list of references any serious birder would want on his/her shelf. There, with some patience, you can almost always find a photo or two that matches closely with the one you are trying to ID.

Re: Juvenile Gull

Cavan Wood — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 14:35:01 GMT

Identifying gulls is more like witchcraft.

Scott

Re: Juvenile Gull

Curlybird — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 03:19:12 GMT

Wow - that was fast! How do you identify these young gulls? Is it just from experience?

Re: Juvenile Gull

snowyowl — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 02:13:23 GMT

End of first cycle/beginning second cycle Western Gull.

Juvenile Gull

Curlybird — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 01:50:17 GMT

This gull (obviously a juvenile) was photographed at beach in Newport Beach (So Calif.) a few weeks ago.

My question is - what type of gull is this? The legs are pink, which may narrow it down but do some juvenile gulls start out with pink legs and possibly later turn yellow? Any ideas or suggestions?