A Herring Gull-type gull at Elliot Landfill, Corpus Christi, Texas
on April 20, 2005. Many birds this time of year are replacing
the longest uppertail coverts, and missing coverts reveal more
of the tail-base, sometimes exaggerating the extent of any barring
there. However this bird seems to have a genuinely well-barred
tail-base. Also note the extensive replacement of wing coverts
and sub-tertials - all with a strongly barred pattern; such features
are suggestive of Vega Gull:
