Herring Gull
Identification:
Juvenile- While a degree of overall shading variability exist from dark to light for specific birds, first winter plumage individuals have a blackish bill with a diffuse pale base, the mantle and scapulars are scaly in appearance, the wing coverts are barred and the breast has faint streaking. Leg color can vary from a pale gray to pale pink.
Adult- mantle and wings are a uniform light gray, the head has variable amounts of streaking, the iris is pale, the tail is white, the legs are pink, black wing tips with white mirrors and the bill is horn colored with red gonys.
Juvenile/First Winter- October 28, 2007
Below is a 4th winter bird- note the small amount of remnant
black at gonys- Lake Anna, Virginia |
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