Slaty-backed Gull in St. Louis County
2012-12-30

'Casual' in Minnesota - Five or fewer records in St. Louis County for the Winter season

This adult Slaty-backed Gull spent much of the day showing off in front of a few grateful observers on 30 December 2012, both at the Superior Entry in the morning, and at Canal Park in the afternoon. Although this bird had a superficial resemblance to a Great Black-backed Gull, appearing slightly larger and definitely stockier than most Herring Gulls, and retaining surprisingly little head streaking (appearing mostly white-headed at a distance), note the following features visible in this photo to help distinguish it from that species and other similar species: narrow crease of streaking behind the eye, slate gray mantle slightly contrasting with the black wingtips, bright violet red orbital ring, mostly bright yellow iris (a little flecking was visible at close range), bright yellow bill with large blood red gonydeal spot, very broad white trailing edge to the upperwing, overall paler gray ventral primary pattern compared to dorsal pattern, and of course the white subapical tongue tips in the outer primaries (string of pearls) extending all the way to P9 (second to the outermost), especially visible on the ventral side. Although not visible in this photo, this bird had dramatically bright pink legs.

Karl J. Bardon