Bird Description

Abundant in Great Plains, often in dense 'packs' on farmland and lakes. Texas only place where ranges overlap with LAGU, other than vagrants. Covers large areas looking for food, often soaring fairly high in packs. Can be found following the plough. Colonial, nesting in marshes. ID: 3-yr gull with dark mantle like similar LAGU. Smaller, more compact with shorter bill. Short, thick neck. Faster and shallower wingbeats. Bolder white eyelids. Smaller hood and whiter neck in summer. Bolder partial hood in nonbr/imm. Less black in wing-tips, usually bordered by white - particularly striking overhead. Ad br (Apr-Sep): often has pink flush on breast. Large white wing-tips, but variable with tips quickly worn away in summer. 2nd-s: subtly different from adult, averages less white in wing, has darker bill and duller hood. Nonbr: boldly patterned partial hood. Juv (Jul-Aug): plumage held briefly. 1st-w (Sep-Apr): similar to LAGU but white neck and underparts with narrower dark tail band and bolder head pattern. 1st-s: variable head pattern, gray upperparts, much as ad nonbr.