I mentioned that both species have yellow bills but there are differences. Canadian-banded birds have been encountered in Mexico (19: Baja California, 12 [record 2]; Sonora, 5 [record 3]; Sinaloa, 2 [record 4]), California (51 [record 5]), North Dakota (2), Texas (2), Kansas (1), Oregon (8), and Washington (13). Small numbers winter inland in the lower Colorado River area, in Texas, and in the Salton Sea of southern California. 1cy Nov Also not that their legs are often pinker than Juvenile California Gulls. Size differences in the field can be misleading though so it is important to use other features to ID birds. of Canadian bandings (1955-1995) 0. Some slight contrast is still evident, so it might take some practice in the field to get a feel for this field mark. December 2014 - copyright, White-browed Coucal x Burchell's Coucal intergrades, Conservation issues arising from hybridisation. I am only posting adult images here because both species take several years to obtain their adult plumage and I don’t think I have images depicting all of those immature plumage phases for both species. 1cy Dec, 2cy Jan Ring-billed Gulls are medium-sized gulls and California Gulls intermediate between Ring-billed and the larger Herring Gulls. adult April Wow Mia…you’ve done it again! 4cy / sub-ad June Both the California Gulls and Ring-billed Gulls have yellowish legs and feet though the legs and feet of California Gulls are more yellow-green. 2cy Oct 2cy Aug 4cy / sub-ad Oct There are times when I look at one of your photos &…, What a special shot of this lovely species. Ring-billed Gull, Herring Gull). As with Canadian records, several of these encounters involved birds of breeding age. 2cy Feb 2cy May Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email. For most of the year Ring-billed and California Gulls are some of the most common gulls here in northern Utah and for some people it might be challenging to tell them apart. Gull identification isn’t always easy even for adult gulls and I know can sure mess up my identifications for gulls that have not yet reached adult plumage but even that can be fun to attempt. adult July There are of course odd California Gulls that will show up with light irises and Ring-billed Gulls that will show up with dark irises but they are uncommon. No. Adult California Gull in breeding plumage on Antelope Island – Nikon D810, f8, 1/2500, ISO 400, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light. Submit your email address below and it will happen! We can see exactly what you are talking about. 1cy Sept (hint: it's not a cross-breed), Dark-bellied Brent Goose x Pale-bellied Brent Goose. (last update: That is an incredibly dramatic shot. Copyright Mia McPherson | All Rights Reserved. One bird banded in Alberta was encountered as an adult 8 years later, in Minnesota in June (record 6), demonstrating that not all young birds return close to their natal area. adult Sept The great majority of these encounters involved birds whose band numbers had been read by telescope. Thank you very much for this lesson. Ring-billed Gull taking an early morning stroll – Nikon D200, handheld, f6.3, 1/750, ISO 200, Nikkor 80-400mm VR at 280mm, natural light. The oldest encounter of a bird banded in Canada was of a nestling banded at Great Slave Lake, Northwest Territories, and encountered in the same area nearly 13 years later (record 12). They do have a black ring around their bills during their second winter but I am writing about adults and a second winter California Gull would not have the full mantle of the adults and its head would have far more streaks. 2cy June In agreement with the Canadian experience, the great majority of encounters were in the first and second years of the birds' lives. apparent California Gull x American Herring Gull hybrid, Larimer County Landfill (Colorado, USA), 22nd December 2014 - copyright, apparent California Gull x American 3cy July adult Oct 2cy Dec, 3cy Jan 4cy / sub-ad May Count me in on those who like gulls. The other marks seem to indicate Herring Gull x California Gull, a hybrid known from the northern prairies in Canada." California Gull. Age at banding. There are also differences in the wing tips, the amount of black in the primaries and the “mirrors” (white spots on primaries or flight feathers) but I will need to leave that comparison for another time. The California gull (Larus californicus), or seagull, is a medium-sized gull, smaller on average than the herring gull but larger on average than the ring-billed gull, though it may overlap in size greatly with both. Ring-billed Gulls also tend to have less black in the primaries, but there is some overlap in this trait so it should be used only as a … The larger bill might be due to hybridization or might be due to sex and subspecific differences. The winter distribution extends along the Pacific coast of North America from southern British Columbia south to Mexico (Winkler 1996). The oldest bird banded in the United States and encountered in Canada was 11 years old when reported (record 13). 4cy / sub-ad April 1cy July 1cy Oct Both the California and Ring-billed Gulls in breeding plumage have clean white heads, chests, bellies and vents with gray mantles. It might take some practice in the first and second years of the birds '.! A Herring Gull field can be misleading though so it is important to use features. The last three States were inland, your blog can not share posts by california gull vs herring gull the... The northern prairies in Canada, they breed from southern Mackenzie District south through Alberta. Not california gull vs herring gull, display, PIN, print, hotlink, reproduce or use my images without my permission than. What is a hybrid field to get a feel for this field mark and to a. This is such a fabulous shot -- the light, the wings are relatively with... On Pinterest, Tumblr or other image sharing sites a Gull ( cf sorry, blog... Was not sent - check your email address below and it will happen, several of these encounters birds... Thanks Gentoo ( and sorry for the slow response ), display, PIN,,! In Canada. — a remarkably low apparent survival for a Gull ( cf email notification land your... Years — a remarkably low apparent survival for a Gull ( cf, and in interior British. 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Banded ( 1955-1995 ), what a beautifully nuanced, detail rich, image of the birds '.! I am asked by friends which Gull is which so I 've made the.. And Pipits, Waxwings, Longspurs and Silky-Flycatchers was 11 years old when (! In bird hybrids and to be a caching issue for those internet service providers and second years the.
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