A selection of 2nd-calendar year American Herring Gulls Larus smithsonianus, seen in the southern Lake Michigan region in February 2014.
I was very much looking forward to seeing American Herring Gulls of this age because their plumage is much darker than our European Herring Gulls Larus argentatus argenteus of the same age. I did not come away disappointed.
As ever with Herring Gulls, variation is huge.
Bird #1
13 February 2014, BP Whiting refinery, Indiana, USA.
Bird #2
13 February 2014, BP Whiting refinery, Indiana, USA.
In rest it does not look very different from European Herring Gull, but note the uniformly dark colouration on the lower hindneck.
Bird #3
13 February 2014, BP Whiting refinery, Indiana, USA.
A bill with a light-pink base and distinct black tip (Glaucous Gull-like) seemed to be very much the norm.
Bird #4
13 February 2014, BP Whiting refinery, Indiana, USA.
Very much the typical 2nd-calendar year American Herring Gull that I had in mind.
Bird #5
13 February 2014, BP Whiting refinery, Indiana, USA.
Bird #6
14 February 2014. Lake County Fairground, Libertyville, Illinois, USA.
Bird #7
14 February 2014. Lake County Fairground, Libertyville, Illinois, USA.
Note the broad white tertial tips.
Bird #8
14 February 2014. Lake County Fairground, Libertyville, Illinois, USA.
Interesting individual with replaced tertials and inner greater coverts.
Bird #9
14 February 2014. Lake County Fairground, Libertyville, Illinois, USA.
Bird #10
14 February 2014. Lake County Fairground, Libertyville, Illinois, USA.
Bird #11
15 February 2014, North Point Marina, Winthrop Harbor, Illinois, USA.
Bird #12
15 February 2014, North Point Marina, Winthrop Harbor, Illinois, USA.
Bird #13
15 February 2014, North Point Marina, Winthrop Harbor, Illinois, USA.
Bird #13
16 February 2014, BP Whiting refinery, Indiana, USA.
Bird #14
16 February 2014, BP Whiting refinery, Indiana, USA.
Individual with striking white head.
Bird #15
16 February 2014, BP Whiting refinery, Indiana, USA.
Bird #16
16 February 2014, BP Whiting refinery, Indiana, USA.
Bird #16
16 February 2014, BP Whiting refinery, Indiana, USA.
A dark-chocolate coloured individual, the darkest I have seen during my trip.
Birds #16 & 17
16 February 2014, BP Whiting refinery, Indiana, USA.
Both ends of the spectrum.
Gulls to the Horizon 