Gull mania

We have tons of laughing gulls here but it is hard to ID their many different forms. I think this one is a 1st or 2nd year... but not sure how to tell which one it is. Any help?? And I invite others to post pictures of gulls (or other shorebirds - terns, skimmers, etc) in their area - I love them!

Edited to add - I just love the poop running down the pole he's sitting on

This message was edited Jul 24, 2008 3:48 PM

Here's another view

That one's a first-summer moulting to second-winter (i.e., just over a year old, probably about 14-15 months, hatched spring last year).

Resin

Oh my lord how confusing these birds are!! I don't know how you do it... thanks!

Not that difficult! The grey feathers on the mantle are clean and fresh, newly grown, whereas the primaries are brown (faded) and very worn, so are still immature feathers not yet moulted. There are also still some black feathers in the tail, also a sign of a young gull.

Resin

Cool, I thought the brown I was seeing was just an illusion created by the setting sun... I was also getting confused because some guides refer to them as 1st WINTER 2nd WINTER (instead of 1st YEAR etc). And it's not winter yet! Makes sense now that it is molting it's 1st winter plumage on the way to it's 2nd winter plumage.

That first picture looks like a fake bird!

I've bought that same bird, so you are right Mrs. Ed, it does look fake. ;-)

LOL NAN!

Oh Mrs. Ed. that cannot be a fake bird. Look at the background! This is a fake bird. You can tell by the dust on its feet (and the background). LOL

LOL he does look fake now that you say it

True the terminology is slightly confusing, 'spring' and 'autumn' would be a bit more correct. Gulls moult twice a year, a full post-breeding moult about now when all the feathers are regrown (summer plumage to winter plumage), and a partial pre-breeding moult (head & body feathers only, not the large flight feathers or tail feathers) in early spring (February-March).

There are a couple of exceptions; Sabine's Gull has its full moult in early spring instead of now, and Franklin's Gull has two full moults instead of one full and one partial.

For gulls that breed in the Southern Hemisphere, timings are 6 months different, to fit the year there.

Oh, and plastic eagles don't moult at all, ever. But they may melt if they get too hot ;-)

Resin

Touche!

OP, particularly like the cobweb in the beak!

ROTFLMAO

You are like a walking encyclopedia Resin. Have you seen the proposition for a birdfiles? They were looking for a bird expert to help - I think you fit the bill (or beak....)

Well of course WE all know that rntx22! A guru I tell you!!!

I would be first in line for an online course in bird identification with Resin facilitating.

Oh shoot, the dusty beak gave it away, Marna?

Yah, until i saw the cobweb, I was fooled!!!