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California. September. |
Age: A big brown job showing a mostly black bill, extensive pale edging to the wing coverts and tertials, and importantly, juvenile scapulars. Thus, this individual is a juvenile proper in its "1st basic plumage". Note that juvenile plumage is synonymous with 1st basic plumage.
Identification: The bill is fairly long and straight (no noticeable expansion to the gonys) and the wing projection is also noticeably long, which points to a juvenile California Gull. Ring-billed Gull at this age typically shows silvery greater coverts and is not so solid dark on the underparts (breast, belly and flanks). Western has a shorter wing projection and overall bulkier proportions, most noticeably with a bulbous-tipped bill. American Herring might be considered, but it too has a thicker bill, shorter wings and a proportionally larger head. The rust-brown tones to the neck and underparts suggest some elements of what is known as a "cinnamon type" California Gull, and that is indeed what our October 2024 Quiz is.