Gulls on Iceberg off Bay Bulls, Newfoundland, 15 June 2017 (1 Viewer)

[Annerather]

Hi all,

as I am preparing for a new trip to Atlantic Canada, I look at older pictures from my pre-bird-nerd times. Despite having learned how to read identification guidebooks, these gulls are puzzling me. I am not even sure they area all the same species. The one on the left and third from left have the Jizz of ring-billed. Second from the left and the one on the right have a different shape (which could be from the way they sit), so I am wondering if these may be American Herring Gulls, although the size comparison would seem odd. So, if pressed, I would probably pronounce all of them ring-billed, but would be happy to stand corrected by people with knowledge of gulls on the other side of the pond... (it is hard enough to identify our own in Europe, especially when they haven't reached adulthood )

Thanks,
Martin

 

[Annerather]

The third from left also has the eyes of a Kittiwake, but that black tip on the bill is odd...

 

[lou salomon]

Hi Annerather, all these birds are immature (3rd cycle = 3rd winter) American Herring Gulls, no Kittiwake or other species in there. For gulls, you often need a bit more literature than a general bird guide and some experience to identify them correctly, it's not only you having difficulties with this group of birds .

 

[Annerather]

Hi Annerather, all these birds are immature (3rd cycle = 3rd winter) American Herring Gulls, no Kittiwake or other species in there. For gulls, you often need a bit more literature than a general bird guide and some experience to identify them correctly, it's not only you having difficulties with this group of birds .

Thank you! My gut was telling me herring gull for the ones at the back, the ones at the front hold the head differently, so it apears rounder.

I have learned the hard way in Europe how difficult gulls are, bought all the specialized literature, but there is nothing replacing field experience (looking at the pics with the field guide in the hand does sometimes confuse more), especially if they are immature. I am now reasonably confident in Europe (but still have a number of "gull sp." IDs). I am sure, I will struggle with some IDs on my summer trip to Canada... but it's a learning opp.

 

[lou salomon]

there's a facebook-Group called North American Gulls Log in to Facebook and of course we shouldn't forget Amar's recently published Gull Guide: The Gull Guide: North America - Google Search
maybe these two resources will help you a bit further
basics also: www.gull-research.org !

 

[Annerather]

Thanks! I saw the new book being published... I am tempted, but having Olson's Gulls of the World, buying a book for a 3 weeks trip (+ maybe 1-2 more in the next years)... my wife would have a field day on my spending for birding

My approach, when outside of Europe: use Merlin "Explore" at the location and date to filter on birds that are likely to be there, use the available literature (for Canada I have an old NatGeo from 2011, the Sibley app, Olsson's Gulls of the World and Chandler's Shorebirds of the Northern Hemisphere) to try to narrow it down. If I have a picture or sound recording I ask Merlin for an opinion (on the above it could't decide between ring-billed and herring - and even Olsson was missing summer plumage pictures at that age for either species, even if those plumage changes are a continuous process...). In most cases I am fairly certain at that point, but with young gulls and shorebirds in winter plumage or moulting I may certainly struggle outside of my area of experience. Will be back here in those cases...

Thanks again for the advice!
Martin