| This juvenile gull was photographed in Fort Worth in mid-December. It looks like a smithsonianus except for the primary pattern, which was strikingly thayeri-like in the field (even allowing for the partial back-lighting). Perhaps it is even more like schistisagus in this repect, as from some angles the underside of P9-P10 appeared darker, combining with the thin dark trailing edge to create the dark "7" shape associated with B1 Slaty-backed Gull. Interestingly there were about ten Herring Gulls at this site - where even one is unusual - and four of the birds looked essentially like the one pictured here. I carefully compared size and general structure, and could find little difference between any of these Herring Gulls. |
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