ML645451123

Observation details

Not sure what this is. Brown imm gull about the same size as Ring-billed Gull, maybe a little bigger. In 2 of the pics there is a Herring Gull nearby which shows the size comparison well, in addition to all the RBGU. Noted pale brownish head and breast, at legs/belly started getting paler with some barring. Legs dull pink. Bill appeared black with pink base, but may have been the light, none of the pics really show any pink. Bill shape appeared slightly thicker and larger than RBGU, maybe a little bulbous at the tip but not very. Mantle brown with pale mottling, wing coverts appeared brown with pale mottling as well, no pale patch at greater coverts like RBGU. Tertials appeared blacker with white tips. Long winged, tapered rear end, black primaries. Tail appeared black for the most part, paler whitish rump with some darker marks. When it spread its tail while preening, could see some white barring along the outer edge of outer retrice. **Update 11/21/25: After posting on North American Gulls FB group Amar Ayyash and Gavin Aquila got back commenting that this looks good for a first cycle California Gull, unusually with retained black in the bill. GA advised as well that "the attenuated rear end, pattern of scapulars, sleek shape, head profile, and particularly bill shape and pattern (latter of which recalls the dark bill of juvenile Calis)" are good for CAGU. This feedback is gratifying, because CAGU was my initial impression. I had even seen what I thought might be a CAGU through the scope from the patch earlier in the morning, which prompted me to go over to the dump and see if any gulls were visible. When I found this bird I immediately thought it was Cali because it looked like an all brown RBGU. As time went on though and I saw that it didn't really obviously have a pink bill base I definitely got more and more confused, and thought maybe Lesser Black-backed, and then just wasn't sure at all. The tapered rear end I noted with longer black wings, slimmer/lankier shape, size similar to RBGU, straighter bill with only slight gonydeal expansion, dark bases to greater coverts, and the pattern of the mantle/scaps/coverts all look good for California. I'll put it this way - if it had had the bright pink bill with black tip along with all the other field marks I noted I would have immediately been positive on California ID. From Herring Gull: 2/3 the size of nearby American Herring Gull, body much slimmer, not as bulky, a more tapered elongated bird rather than a big chunky hefty bird. Head rounder and not as blocky, bill smaller and not as angular as herring. Did not have a chance to note wing pattern unfortunately, never saw it in flight and only saw it spread wings once briefly. From Lesser Black-backed: Others mentioned that proportions/shape of this bird all wrong for LBBG, I am not as familiar with shape of LBBG to comment on this, but I noted that this bird was overall more smooth brown and gray, especially in the head, coverts, mantle, and chest. I'm used to imm LBBG being mostly white headed with darker eye patch (as opposed to mostly smooth brown head with slightly paler area around bill noted on this bird), and a white chest with streaky sides (as opposed to mostly smooth brown/gray with some mottling), and a much more gray/black/white and more checkered impression to the mantle/coverts as opposed to a more messy brown/gray impression on this bird. Anyway - second Dallas county record for me. Will have to try to get it for patch too!