Herring Gull (smithsonianus)

Herring Gull
(smithsonianus)

IMAGES:

First Cycle
Second Cycle
Third Cycle
Adult

DESCRIPTION:

HERRING GULL(23-27";55-57") smithsonianus

BILL SHAPE: straight w/ little gon angle; about 4-5x eye diam; curve to culmen at tip is moderate
HEAD SHAPE: long, sloped forehead w/ moderately flat crown, peaking far behind eye; heavy brow and may have glowering countenance
WING EXTENSION: about bill length
POSTURE/HABITS:
	FIRST CYCLE	SECOND CYCLE	THIRD CYCLE	ADULT
BILL COLOR:	black, usually w/ flesh base to lower mand; may be all flesh w/ black tip by late winter	flesh w/ square-cut black tip or subterm band	pale yellow w/ large black irreg. subterm band	pale yelow w/ brighter tip; often w/ dark inner mark or subterm ring next to orange-red gon. spot
LEG COLOR:	pale dirty pink	pink	pink	light to medium pink
IRIS/ORB RING:	dark	most are pale yellow; some may be dark	as adult	cream to pale yellow (dark is very rare); orb ring usually yellow, but orange or red is possible
HEAD:	usually lighter and offset from underparts by mid-winter; covered w/ fine diffuse g-b streaks; aurs may be solid; thick streaks on nape sides	fairly white w/ light streaks over crown and aurs; thicker on nape	white w/ thin streaks over crown and aurs; thicker around nape	thick blotchy streaks all over head and neck, coming across breast; aur edge palest; lower nape darkest; dark diagonal smudge in front of eye; streaks on nape and neck sides obvious through Mar
UNDERPARTS:	belly fairly solid med-dark g-b; undt covs barred	breast lightly splotched; belly variable; undt covs white or w/ faded barring	scattered smudging across breast from nape; otherwise white	white, but w/ head streaking across upper breast
PRIMARIES (folded):	blackish; may have thin pale crescents in fresh plumage	black	black w/ a hint of A-spots	black w/ A-spots large and slightly decreasing in size; A10 slightly smaller than eye; A7 larger than eye
PRIMARIES (in flight):	usually most of P7-10 black (rarely up to P9 with pale inner webs), inner Ps pale w/ small terminal mark, forming obvious pale window	outer Ps black, inner Ps nearly white from above and below; mirror on P10 possible		large mirror on P10; may have small mirror on P9; black band on P5; mark on P4; thin white tongue on P5-7, sometimes to P8; gray area white from below
SECONDARIES (in flight):	dark w/ pale fringe	nearly black w/ pale fringe		adult gray w/ thin white trailing edge, about 1/3 bill length
TERTIALS:	dark g-b, nearly matching Ps, tiped w/ pale crescent (may be large and irreg in shape), sometimes edged with white notches	solid black w/ extensive marbled tips or internal markings	as adult	adult gray w/ white crescent about 1/2 bill length
GREATER COVERTS:	usually w/ large g-b spots, w/ small pale areas between them; on most birds the inner feathers and outer subterm areas more solid, forming a dark lower bar on standing bird (others are completely checkered)	extensively marbled med g-b, appearing solid w/ fine spots	as adult	adult gray
LESSER & MED COVERTS:	large g-b subterm anchor w/ pale fringe and interior spots, giving a checkered look	med g-b w/ extensive internal pale markings, appearing marbled; usually w/ some adult gray	...	adult gray
SCAPULARS:	variable g-b subterm anchor w/ pale fringe and adult gray centers; juvs have dark holly leaf pattern with crisp white notches along edges	adult gray w/ small white crescent	...	adult gray w/ white crescent about 1/3 bill length
BACK:	like scaps but w/ more white in the pattern, giving a paler look	adult gray; may be mottled w/ g-b	as adult	adult gray is a cool, pale gray w/ bluish hue, like Ring-billed
RUMP:	much whiter than back, but barred w/ dark	white	white	white
TAIL:	black w/ white barring at base of outer retrices and on outermost webs; pale fringe; rarely w/ extensive barring at bases of all retrices	solid dark w/ pale or mottled bases to most retrices; pale fringe	...	white