Posted by Mitch Heindel (209.179.232.77) on April 20, 2001 at 22:09:48:
In Reply to: more glaucous-thing ramblings posted by Phil Pickering on April 18, 2001 at 08:44:18:
Hi all,
I would not call this a Glaucous if I found it. I'd would call it a mostly Glaucous. I'm a 3S's (size, shape and structure) guy, and as others have mentioned head and bill size, shape and structure seem out of range for what I know as a Glaucous Gull. The bill seems so small and dainty. The head is incredibly rounded. These are not two images I picture as a Glaucous. Perhaps there are small female barros that can match this, but I would certainly have to readjust my range of shape and structure possible to accept this. Glaucous to me have a very block or angular headed look. Flat on top, steep hind crown, and a 45 degree angle from peak on forehead above eye to bill base. None of this roundness shown by this bird. The black on the lower mandible is far more extensive than on any Glaucous I've seen, and I've never seen it this unequal. I lived on the NE coast for 3 years and saw a good number of them, and Iceland Gulls (which everything else about this doesn't seem to match either). Can we call it a mostly Glaucous Gull? How about just 'great white gull sp.'?
Great pictures too!
On my photo quiz #9 there what I consider a more typical Glaucous head shape.....
gulls and fallout happens
Mitch
Mitch Heindel
birdfish@earthlink.net
http://www.angelfire.com/ca5/pelagics