Posted by Fix (206.13.45.173) on August 07, 2000 at 19:39:51:
Those of us who have remarked on the quiz gull are each interested in gulls, and we know that one image can be misleading. Again, if we were to see this thing preen, stretch a wing, or get it in a context of a crowded 'pinkfoot' flock, it might be easier to assess. Phil Pickering, who looks closely indeed at many gulls, makes some interesting points. I will hazard that, if this bird were to be seen in direct profile, the foreshortening of the bill would disappear and we would see that it has a bill far too massive for any Iceland/Thayer's type. Look also at the pronounced gonydeal angle. This is some large west coast marine sluggo. That said, I think we need to---well, if not age it, then assign a time of year. The coverts do look shreddy, which leads me to think it's undergone a body molt recently but hasn't molted the big feathers. I'll bet flight shots of this gull would show missing remiges in the crease or, possibly, missing inner rectrices [Joe, might you comment on this later if such shots exist?] I couldn't respond to Phil's thoughts on the projection of the orbital area, but I will say the eye color probably isn't going to prove very useful. Glaucous-wings are often stated to have dark eyes, but I have seen what look for all the world like perfect GWGU in winter in n.w. CA (exceptionally 'necky', 5% larger and a touch taller than Westerns, moose bills, big eyes, perfect P pattern, the works) that have obviously pale eyes. Not like Herring Gull eyes, but distinctly pale. They seem quite uncommon here and I wonder if they're either very northern birds or else there's some otherwise imperceptible Glaucous introgression happening. Gosh, who knows. Just something to bear in mind.