Uncommon Gull -- ID tips
As a birder with decades-long experience of misidentifying gulls, I offer this brief primer on distinguishing the Uncommon Gull from its sister taxa, Common and Short-billed Gulls. (With apologies to David Sibley.):
In general, black on the wingtips of Uncommon Gull is only 92% saturated vs. the 100% saturation in the other two species. The configuration is that of a slightly bent fork at the wingtip, in sharp contrast to the “fairly evenly forked V-shape” in the Short-billed Gull or the “more solid black triangle” of Common Gull.
Other points:
- p9 is located in p8’s position
- inner web of p8 often has a sand flea caught in it
- black on outer web of p8 covers about 42%, not half, of the length of the feather
- sometimes there is a complete black band on p5, but other times it is either incomplete or not black
- white tips on inner primaries are located on the outer secondaries
- head and neck typically heavily marked with smudges of brownish-gray, not gray-brown, often suggesting tattoos or celtic runes
- bill is ordinary.
I hope this is taken in the facetious spirit intended. I have nothing but the greatest admiration for those who can actually identify these wicked gulls.
John Weeks
North Granby
Thanks John, a good chuckle for a winter’s day, and definitely relatable.
Chris
Chris Wood
Woodbury, CT
203 558-0654
CSWood PhotoSampler https://flic.kr/s/aHsmG8YnEk
On Feb 11, 2022, at 8:00 AM, John Weeks aerie.john@cox.net wrote:
As a birder with decades-long experience of misidentifying gulls, I offer this brief primer on distinguishing the Uncommon Gull from its sister taxa, Common and Short-billed Gulls. (With apologies to David Sibley.):
In general, black on the wingtips of Uncommon Gull is only 92% saturated vs. the 100% saturation in the other two species. The configuration is that of a slightly bent fork at the wingtip, in sharp contrast to the “fairly evenly forked V-shape” in the Short-billed Gull or the “more solid black triangle” of Common Gull.
Other points:
- p9 is located in p8’s position
- inner web of p8 often has a sand flea caught in it
- black on outer web of p8 covers about 42%, not half, of the length of the feather
- sometimes there is a complete black band on p5, but other times it is either incomplete or not black
- white tips on inner primaries are located on the outer secondaries
- head and neck typically heavily marked with smudges of brownish-gray, not gray-brown, often suggesting tattoos or celtic runes
- bill is ordinary.
I hope this is taken in the facetious spirit intended. I have nothing but the greatest admiration for those who can actually identify these wicked gulls.
John Weeks
North Granby
CTBirds, a service of Connecticut Ornithological Association - Bringing birders together statewide. Please support COA: https://www.ctbirding.org/join-us/
CTBirds is for the discussion of birds and birding in Connecticut. For list rules and subscription information visit: https://www.ctbirding.org/birds-birding/ct-birds-email-list/
Just call them all Seagulls and be done with it.
On Fri, Feb 11, 2022 at 8:01 AM John Weeks aerie.john@cox.net wrote:
As a birder with decades-long experience of misidentifying gulls, I offer
this brief primer on distinguishing the Uncommon Gull from its sister taxa,
Common and Short-billed Gulls. (With apologies to David Sibley.):
In general, black on the wingtips of Uncommon Gull is only 92% saturated
vs. the 100% saturation in the other two species. The configuration is
that of a slightly bent fork at the wingtip, in sharp contrast to the
“fairly evenly forked V-shape” in the Short-billed Gull or the “more solid
black triangle” of Common Gull.
Other points:
- p9 is located in p8’s position
- inner web of p8 often has a sand flea caught in it
- black on outer web of p8 covers about 42%, not half, of the length of
the feather - sometimes there is a complete black band on p5, but other times it is
either incomplete or not black - white tips on inner primaries are located on the outer secondaries
- head and neck typically heavily marked with smudges of brownish-gray,
not gray-brown, often suggesting tattoos or celtic runes - bill is ordinary.
I hope this is taken in the facetious spirit intended. I have nothing but
the greatest admiration for those who can actually identify these wicked
gulls.
John Weeks
North Granby
CTBirds, a service of Connecticut Ornithological Association - Bringing
birders together statewide. Please support COA:
https://www.ctbirding.org/join-us/
CTBirds is for the discussion of birds and birding in Connecticut. For
list rules and subscription information visit:
https://www.ctbirding.org/birds-birding/ct-birds-email-list/
Got a good laugh out of this. But in seriousness for a moment:
The Sibley article is very good, but the differences among all gulls in
this complex are super subtle and he leaves open the possibility that not
all of them will be identifiable. "There is a lot of variation and a lot of
overlap, and you should not identify one of these gulls unless multiple
features align with that identification."
I am curious what characteristics led to its identification as a
"Kamchatka" Common Gull. To be clear - I am not doubting the
identification. I haven't seen it myself (although I hope to!). I have only
looked at photos on eBird which may or may not show the field marks that
made it possible to figure this one out. My hat is off to those who found
it and identified it.
Thanks and best to all, George
George Wallace
Salisbury, CT
On Fri, Feb 11, 2022 at 8:48 AM Paul Plotnick pdplot2@gmail.com wrote:
Just call them all Seagulls and be done with it.
On Fri, Feb 11, 2022 at 8:01 AM John Weeks aerie.john@cox.net wrote:
As a birder with decades-long experience of misidentifying gulls, I offer
this brief primer on distinguishing the Uncommon Gull from its sister
taxa,
Common and Short-billed Gulls. (With apologies to David Sibley.):
In general, black on the wingtips of Uncommon Gull is only 92% saturated
vs. the 100% saturation in the other two species. The configuration is
that of a slightly bent fork at the wingtip, in sharp contrast to the
“fairly evenly forked V-shape” in the Short-billed Gull or the “more
solid
black triangle” of Common Gull.
Other points:
- p9 is located in p8’s position
- inner web of p8 often has a sand flea caught in it
- black on outer web of p8 covers about 42%, not half, of the length of
the feather - sometimes there is a complete black band on p5, but other times it is
either incomplete or not black - white tips on inner primaries are located on the outer secondaries
- head and neck typically heavily marked with smudges of brownish-gray,
not gray-brown, often suggesting tattoos or celtic runes - bill is ordinary.
I hope this is taken in the facetious spirit intended. I have nothing
but
the greatest admiration for those who can actually identify these wicked
gulls.
John Weeks
North Granby
CTBirds, a service of Connecticut Ornithological Association - Bringing
birders together statewide. Please support COA:
https://www.ctbirding.org/join-us/
CTBirds is for the discussion of birds and birding in Connecticut. For
list rules and subscription information visit:
https://www.ctbirding.org/birds-birding/ct-birds-email-list/
CTBirds, a service of Connecticut Ornithological Association - Bringing
birders together statewide. Please support COA:
https://www.ctbirding.org/join-us/
CTBirds is for the discussion of birds and birding in Connecticut. For
list rules and subscription information visit:
https://www.ctbirding.org/birds-birding/ct-birds-email-list/
Oh thank you, John, THAT cleared it up for me. Especially the 42% -- not half -- of the length the feather. Now I'm ready for the beach.
Sarah Faulkner
Collinsville
On 02/11/2022 8:00 AM John Weeks aerie.john@cox.net wrote:
As a birder with decades-long experience of misidentifying gulls, I offer this brief primer on distinguishing the Uncommon Gull from its sister taxa, Common and Short-billed Gulls. (With apologies to David Sibley.):
In general, black on the wingtips of Uncommon Gull is only 92% saturated vs. the 100% saturation in the other two species. The configuration is that of a slightly bent fork at the wingtip, in sharp contrast to the “fairly evenly forked V-shape” in the Short-billed Gull or the “more solid black triangle” of Common Gull.
Other points:
- p9 is located in p8’s position
- inner web of p8 often has a sand flea caught in it
- black on outer web of p8 covers about 42%, not half, of the length of the feather
- sometimes there is a complete black band on p5, but other times it is either incomplete or not black
- white tips on inner primaries are located on the outer secondaries
- head and neck typically heavily marked with smudges of brownish-gray, not gray-brown, often suggesting tattoos or celtic runes
- bill is ordinary.
I hope this is taken in the facetious spirit intended. I have nothing but the greatest admiration for those who can actually identify these wicked gulls.
John Weeks
North Granby
CTBirds, a service of Connecticut Ornithological Association - Bringing birders together statewide. Please support COA: https://www.ctbirding.org/join-us/
CTBirds is for the discussion of birds and birding in Connecticut. For list rules and subscription information visit: https://www.ctbirding.org/birds-birding/ct-birds-email-list/