This fourth/definitive-basic smithsonianus Herring Gull was photographed at Corpus
Christi, Texas on January 6, 2001 by Martin Reid; the mantle was
clearly darker than any other Herring or Ring-billed Gull at the
site, and the orbital ring was seen to be rich reddish-orange;
The head-streaking was very prominent and extensive, while most
other adult HERGs already had much-reduced facial streaking; only
one rather small mirror was noted on P10, and combined with the
large black gonydal spot and pinkish tone to the bill base, may
indicate that this is a fourth-basic bird; primary molt appeared
to be complete - typical for smithsonianus yet unusually
early for vegae; the bill was large with a swollen, drooping
tip (rare in vegae?); note the reduced black at the bases
of the folded primaries compared to the sitting smithsonianus
in the first image - something consistently seen in vegae
(click here to see adult vegae
at this site):
