Bird Description

Rare breeder in Great Lakes and James Bay. Scarce in winter in Great Lakes area, rare on coast s. to Carolinas. Usually found with BOGU. Habits similar. ID: 3-yr gull. Smallest gull in world but not strikingly so compared to BOGU. Buoyant and erratic flight. Can be surprisingly difficult to pick out in flocks of BOGU. Watch for size, compact shape, head and wing-tip pattern on sitting/standing birds. In flight, wing pattern should be obvious. Ad br: dark hood. Pale upperwing. White wing-tips and trailing edge to wing (can make wing look rounded). Stunning dark underwing. Nonbr: smudgy crown and dark ear spot. 2nd w: as adult but paler underwing and some black in wing-tips. Juv: extensive dark marking on upperparts with 'W' across wings. Black tail band. 1st-w: gray mantle.