Contributor
Date
Location
- Age
- Not specified
- Sex
- Not specified
Observation details
Adult. Great studies through scope as it sat in water next to Herring Gulls just 75-100 meters offshore. First picked up in binoculars as all the gulls took off from the rocky lakeshore. At close range the dark hood and the limited extent of black in the outer primaries were immediately noticeable. On upperwing, saw black outer tongues on what looked like 5 primaries. No black subterminal band on P10, just a very large pale apical spot. Black fairly extensive on the next two primaries (P9 and P8; these still had less black than on a Herring Gull). The next two primaries had a small amount of black at the tips. Dark color on underwings was limited to grayish outer tongue on the outermost primary and dark subterminal bands on P6/7-P9. Once it landed on the water, mantle appeared a hair darker than surrounding Herring Gulls at most angles. Blobby dark hood ending abruptly at upper breast was striking. The dark color was most concentrated around the eye, which was dark as far as I could tell. White apical spots on folded primaries a little larger than most (though not all) nearby Herrings. Bill narrow and straw-colored with a pinkish-red gonys spot. Head rounded and dove-like - not much more so than some of the presumed female Herrings in the flock, but a good supporting character. Digiscoping was difficult in low-light conditions. Included are a video and four marginally useful stills from it. A good record for the Keweenaw Peninsula.
Technical information
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