Feedback on gull IDs

Jenny Shelton

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Mar 3, 2021, 10:56:18 AM3/3/21

to Colorado Birds

Hello group,

I finally braved my first attempt at identification of some young gulls I photographed yesterday at Cherry Creek SP. I would appreciate some feedback because I’m still pretty insecure about my ID skills. Thanks so much to Nick Komar for the workshop on Sunday! From that information I think I had a California gull because of the larger size and pinkish base to the beak with black tip. I also think I had a lesser black backed gull vs. herring gull because of the dark wings, white rump, and no visible window in the secondaries when the wings were extended.

My checklist with photos is here:

https://ebird.org/checklist/S82609968

Thanks!

Jenny

Sent from my iPhone

Jenny Shelton

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Mar 3, 2021, 10:56:18 AM3/3/21

to Colorado Birds

Correcting my own post: I meant to say no visible window in the *primaries*

Sent from my iPhone

On Mar 2, 2021, at 8:20 AM, Jenny Shelton <sheltonco...@gmail.com> wrote:

Hello group,

Caleb A

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Mar 3, 2021, 11:55:33 AM3/3/21

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Hello Jenny!

I'm a fellow unsure-about-gulls-in-general birder, but I agree with your identifications! The photo of the Lesser Black-backed Gull is a keeper! I think in addition to their colors, note how the Lesser Black-backed Gull just has a different--look overall than the California Gull. It has a slimmer body build, and like Nick said in the presentation, the silhouette of these gulls can also help guide on-the-spot intuition as to where an identification can lead.