Gull ID help - Southern Oregon, US coast 28 Aug (1 Viewer)

[Lisa W]

Hi, hoping someone can help. Am thinking this is a California Gull, but I’m not very familiar with gulls.


As always thanks for any assistance.

 

[Indobirder]

Not California, which would have yellowish legs and dark wingtips.

Wingtips make me think Glaucous-winged or some hybrid with a Glaucous-winged

 

[lou salomon]

starting 3rd cycle (3cy) Western or Olympic Gull. careful, immature Californias can have pinkish legs. but they also should show a variable amount of black to bill and structure of bill/head/body is wrong for this species here. if it wasn't for the soft and relatively plain "grizzle" on its head I#d have accepted it as a Western Gull, but probably this head markings indivate some Glaucous-winged influence, thus I suggested Olympic Gull (L. occidentalis x glaucescens). Way too black wingtips for pure Glaucous-winged.

 

[Lisa W]

Thank you both for responding. I had never heard of an Olympic Gull, the hybridization among gulls continues to amaze me.

 

[lou salomon]

Olympic Gull actually is the most established/numerous hybrid of the world among large gull species. In Oregon and Puget Sound the vast majority of breeding large Gulls are Olympics .

 

[Lisa W]

Olympic Gull actually is the most established/numerous hybrid of the world among large gull species. In Oregon and Puget Sound the vast majority of breeding large Gulls are Olympics .

Thanks for this info. I wonder if they will ever make it a separate species?

 

[KC Foggin]

So does this now become a lifer for you Lisa? If so Congratulations!

 

[lou salomon]

no, unfortunately hybrids are not counted. but it might well be a pure Western Gull.
no separate species, such populations are sometimes referred to as "hybrid swarms".