30 June 2015

June 2015 Quiz


The theme this month is dark-backed species that are worn and molting. The appearance of these birds suggests it's Summer season.

Beginning with the hooded gulls, the 3 in front are all Laughing Gulls (longer, drooping bills, thinner eye crescents and little to no white on the primary tips). Franklin's is typically shorter-legged with body structure that's more compact. There's no reason not to label the 4th hooded gull in the back (facing away) a Laughing Gull either.

Now for the larger two non-hooded species. The medium-sized gull with the heavily streaked head to the right is a Lesser Black-backed Gull. The legs do not appear to be the mustard-yellow that's expected on this species, but this is age-related. Sub-adult Lessers commonly show pinkish leg color and retarded bill patterns, sometimes with extensive black, like this individual. The fine vertical head streaking is also unique to Lesser Black-backed when considering black-backed species in North America.

The larger gull to the left is the largest species we have: Great Black-backed Gull. Its jet-black upperparts, pinkish legs and overall large body size can't be mistaken for much else. Great Black-backeds tend to keep mostly white heads almost year-round in North America.

This photograph was taken in Cape May, New Jersey - 06 August 2012.

Monthly Notables June 2015

June is a good month to find lingering gulls that would have otherwise moved north or offshore. You'll notice most of the highlights for this month are 1-2 year-olds.
  • Black-headed Gull (1st cycle - continuing). New Hanover County, NC. 01 June 2015.
  • Thayer's Gull (2nd cycle ). Marquette County, MI. 04 June 2015.
  • Little Gull (1st cycle). Lake County, IL. 06 June 2015.
  • Glaucous Gull (1st cyclce). Niagara County, NY. 06 June 2015.
  • Black-legged Kittiwake (180 - almost all 1st cycle). Barnstable County, MA. 06 June 2015.
  • Black-headed Gull (1st cycle). St. Paul Island, AK. 07 June 2015.
  • Kamchatka Gull (1st cycle). St. Paul Island, AK. 07 June 2015.
  • Great Black-backed Gull (2nd cycle). Mobile County, AL. 14 June 2015.
    • This individual was sighted on Dauphin Island on three different days. Any black-backed species here should be closely scrutinized and documented with photos.
  • Sabine's Gull (2nd cycle type). Queens County, NY. 18 June 2015.
  • Iceland Gull (1st cycle). Manitowoc County, WI. 19 June 2015.
  • Great Black-backed Gull (1st cycle). Burleigh County, ND. 20 June 2015.
  • Black-headed Gull (1st cycle). Monroe County, MI. 22 June 2015.
    • Presumably the same individual sighted here, on-and-off, in April.
  • Slaty-backed Gull (adult). Deewatin County, Nunavut, Canada. 22 June 2015.
  • Black-legged Kittiwake (1st cycles - 4). Pacific County, WA. 22 June 2015.
  • Franklin's Gull (1st cycle type). Humboldt County, CA. 29 June 2015.