[Gerard]

Hi Everyone,

I was just wondering if I could get help with the ID of this gull. I believe it is a Glaucous Gull but have no experience with this species. The photo was taken in Departure Bay, Nanaimo today.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/113462232@N02/11767276565/

Thanks,
Gerard Duncan
Nanaimo, BC

[russellcannings]

Hi Gerard,

Do you have any other photos of this bird? Would be nice to get a better side-angle on the head. It certainly looks very large and white (like a typical 2nd-cycle Glaucous) but the key feature is the bill and possibly the eye. From what I can see, the bill looks a little dirty (i.e. Not the distinct "dipped-in-ink" <black tip; the rest clean pink> bill of a typical immature Glaucous. If the eye was bright yellow that would also be a strong indicator of Glaucous.

Will look there tomorrow if I have time!

Cheers,

Russ Cannings
Nanaimo, BC

[Gerard]

Hi Russ,

Thanks for the help. When I had him in my bins I could see the yellow eye, but I can't be 100% sure on the bill. I have a couple more photos, although none are closer. This one is a bit more of a profile shot.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/113462232@ ... /lightbox/

Thanks,
Gerard Duncan
Nanaimo, BC

[russellcannings]

To me the head and bill look wrong for typical Glaucous Gull. Glaucous's usually have large blocky heads with big, strait-edged beak. At this plumage-stage they almost always have a clean pink bill with a dark tip. This birds' bill is more Glaucous-winged-shaped in my opinion and the bill has a 'dirty' look as I mentioned before. Hybrid is a possibility, but I would guess this is a pale-looking second-cycle Glaucous-winged Gull. The extreme paleness could be caused by feather-wear/sun-bleaching, or perhaps leucism/albinism. If the feathers seemed in good condition I would suspect the latter.

Even the experts who make the fieldguides admit that gulls (particularly the large larids of the Pacific NW) present a perplexing range of plumages, particularly during their 'immature' years. I can confidently say "I'm not sure" on this one but it looks very interesting so I'll try and find it in the morning if I have time.

If you manage to get any closer pics in the future. Feel free to post them here or send them to me at: russellcannings@shaw.ca

Russ

[Gerard]

Thanks for the information, it was a neat find nonetheless. I hope he's still around tomorrow, I'll try to get another look. This is also another reason I need to get a better lens!

Thanks Russ!

Gerard Duncan
Nanaimo, BC