Bird Description

Increasingly common. Found with other large gulls, but particularly on beaches and in grass fields. Probably breeds but not confirmed. Mantle color makes it the one to rule out first when finding potentially rarer gulls. Also hybridized with HEGU often enough to be a problem - these show intermediate characters. Back color variably gray, most appearing to be the relatively pale W European race 'graellsii' (shown in plate), others darker. ID: 4-yr gull. Slighter and longer-winged than HEGU. Often looks slim-necked and small-headed heightening attenuated appearance. Color patterns, particularly imms, closer to GBBG. Bill usually slim. Picked out from the crowd by back color and yellow legs (older birds), but confirm with bill, size, and proportions. Imms: often easier to spot in flight due to general uniform pattern, contrasting with white 'rump.' Ad br: medium-dark gray back. Yellow legs. Bright yellow bill with red spot. Red orbital ring . Yellow iris. Extensive black on wing-tips, usually one mirror. Ad nonbr: variable amounts of well-defined streaks on head and neck, strongest around eye giving mean expression. 2nd-s/3rd - yr: as adult with imm feathers (mostly coverts). Black in bill often noticeable as yellow develops at tip and base of lower mandible first. Black in tail gradually molted. Most, but not all, have yellowish legs. Juv: uniformly dark-checkered. White underparts with well-defined streaks often noticeable. Dark around eye, black bill and shape in combination usually stand out from HEGU. Dark bases to greater coverts and pale rump, easiest to see in flight. 1st-yr: mantle and scapulars have more complex internal markings. By summer can appear more uniformly dark and dingy with contrasting dark-spotted pale underparts. Gray adult-like mantle and scapulars grown in through 2nd winter, and all-black bill develops some yellow.