L. occidentalis, Western Gull (?)

I have provided here more and better images than were in the Chat article. I think that some of these images have never been seen before by anyone but me. In some I have magnified the image to reveal key features. I am actively soliciting opinions from knowledgeable observers.

There is a discussion of this bird on the responses page.

Click on the thumbnail image to load the full image. Set your monitor to at least thousands of colors.

Late afternoon, 14 March, bright sunlight. The reddish cast to the original slide has been removed electronically. In life the mantle was a bit darker than it looks here, with more contrast with that of Herring Gull. The gray was a purer gray with less bluish cast.

Late afternoon, 14 March, bright sunlight. The reddish cast to the original slide has been removed electronically. The legs are pink, slightly grayish.

Morning, 15 March, overcast.

Morning, 15 March, overcast. Good mantle colors. Note bill.

Morning, 15 March, overcast. Good mantle colors. Note bill. Note how head shape could change. Iris was dark in most light, brownish or amber but not black. Orbital ring, not visible on these photos, was yellow-orange.

Morning, 15 March, overcast. Posture changes head shape again.

Morning, 15 March, overcast.

Morning, 15 March, overcast.

For comparison, a bird photographed in San Diego, January 1996, presumably of the darker race.

Comments

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