California Gull in St. Louis County
2009-11-24

'Casual' in Minnesota

This first cycle bird was found and photographed on the Minnesota side of the Superior Entry at the end of Minnesota Point, Duluth, Minnesota, presumably representing the same first cycle bird seen by Mike Hendrickson and Peder Svingen on 21 November 2009. Although it is common for first cycle Herring Gulls to show pinkish bills with sharply defined dark tips, note this bird's different bill shape than Herring Gull: long and thin with parallel sides and no swelling at the gonys. Also note the diagnostic wing pattern of California Gull compared to Herring Gull: the inner primaries are not noticeably paler than the rest of the wing as they are on first cycle Herring Gulls, and the greater secondary coverts form a strong dark bar which is not noticeable on first cycle Herring Gulls

Karl J. Bardon