Herring x Glaucous Gull (hybrid) - Ben Bright

ML36365441

Herring x Glaucous Gull (hybrid) Larus argentatus x hyperboreus

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Contributor

Date

Location

Bear River MBR--Auto Tour Loop
Box Elder, Utah, United States
Media from this location Illustrated Checklist
Map
Map Coordinates: 41.4692291, -112.2947788
Age
Not specified
Sex
Not specified

Observation details

I think this is an immature Glaucous based on 1) its large size (much larger than California Gulls that it was not getting along with), 2) overall dirty white plumage, 3) bill color (very pink with well-defined black tip with a pink point on the very end of the bill), and 4) most importantly, very light, whitish primaries and tail. Even though light and pictures can be deceiving, the primaries and tail of a Herring wouldn't have appeared so light. Also observed in the field but not too apparent on photos were pinkish legs. I didn't know what to look for in the field to distinguish large gulls so I am going solely off of these photos: Feb 2016 update: Ryan O'Donnell noted that the primaries appear too dark for a pure Glaucous Gull, and suggested that this bird could be a first-cycle "Nelson's Gull" (Herring Gull x Glaucous Gull hybrid).

Technical information

Model
COOLPIX S9500
ISO
125
Focal length
99 mm
Flash
Flash did not fire, auto
f-stop
f/6.3
Shutter speed
1/400 sec
Dimensions
1378 pixels x 1036 pixels
Original file size
481.66 KB