Page 1 of 1
Help with a gull
Posted: Wed Feb 04, 2026 9:19 pm
by Sbruenjes
I saw this gull today at Sandy Hook Beach in Monmouth, NJ. The lack of black wing tips is confusing me. Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Re: Help with a gull
Posted: Wed Feb 04, 2026 10:59 pm
by Aidan B
Pretty sure it's a Herring
Re: Help with a gull
Posted: Wed Feb 04, 2026 11:38 pm
by Hooded Robin
Aidan B wrote: Wed Feb 04, 2026 10:59 pm
Pretty sure it's a Herring
Can Iceland (Thayer's) be discounted?
Re: Help with a gull
Posted: Sun Feb 08, 2026 12:38 am
by AveryF
Hooded Robin wrote: Wed Feb 04, 2026 11:38 pm
Aidan B wrote: Wed Feb 04, 2026 10:59 pm
Pretty sure it's a Herring
Can Iceland (Thayer's) be discounted?
Here’s my take, and I could be totally off base.
The bird is in its second cycle (replaced mantle feathers while retaining immature body feathers), which explains the lack of adult primaries, and in comparing Thayer’s and Am Herring, the tail is different between the two. Am Herring has fairly dark rectrices, and a mostly white rump/UpTC, while Thayer’s shows lighter brown rectrices and a fairly smudgy rump/UnTC. The bill also is fairly bulbous, something I have yet to really see on any Iceland.