Common Gull (canus/heinei)

Common Gull
(canus/heinei)

IMAGES:

1) 1 first winter (standing and spread underwing)
2) many adults in flight showing primary pattern
3) 1 winter adult (w/ primary pattern like Mew)

DESCRIPTION:

COMMON GULL (16-18";47-48") canus/heinei

BILL SHAPE: small and slim, smaller than Ring-billed; 2-3x eye diam; gon angle very small; culmen curve gentle, beginning 1/2 way out
HEAD SHAPE: small, dainty, and dove-like
WING EXTENSTION: long; 1.5-2x bill length
POSTURE/HABITS:
	FIRST WINTER	SECOND WINTER	ADULT WINTER
BILL COLOR:	flesh or dull yellow (blue-gray possible) w/ slightly blurred black outer 1/3; slightly more black on lower mandible	blue-gray or dull yellow w/ dark tip or subterm band	dull or greenish-yellow; may show dark subterm band w/ brighter yellow tip
LEG COLOR:	dull grayish-pink (blue-gray possible)	blue-gray to dull flesh	greenish-yellow
IRIS/ORB RING:	dark	dark	brown, rarely yellow; orb ring red
HEAD:	canus: covered w/ thin dark well-defined streaks or lines; dark crescent in front of eye; pale around bill; aurs streaked; nape and neck sides thickly spotted; henei: lightly streaked except for collar of spots at base of nape, appearing white at a distance	streaked over entire head; aurs may appear solid; blotchy on nape and neck sides	variable delicate spotting on crown, aurs, nape, and neck sides
UNDERPARTS:	canus: white w/ blurry spotting on breast or breast sides; variable mottling down flanks; henei: nearly all white; both subspecies w/ few dark marks at vent sides	white; some light smudging from nape may extend to breast sides	white
PRIMARIES (folded):	black w/ thin pale crescents possible on tips	black; may show tiny A-spots	A-spots diminish in size; small A-spot on P9, just before P10; larger A-spots on P6-8
PRIMARIES (in flight):	outer Ps blackish; inner Ps pale w/ dark subterm spots; P5-6 may show white tongue between dark subterm spot and g-b base	P7-10 black; med to large mirror on P10, possible on P9; black to P5; small tongues possible on P5-7; black on upper P covs	extensive black on P8-10; large mirrors on P9-10; small mirror possible on P8; thin black band possible on P5; small white tongues on P5-7
SECONDARIES (in flight):	dark w/ pale fringe; underwing covs white w/ thin dark edges, appearing pale	as adult; underwing covs largely white	adult gray w/ broad white trailing edge
TERTIALS:	dark g-b w/ broad pale edges, split by dark shaft at tip, forming broad pale chevron	as adult	adult gray w/ large white crescent, about 3/4-1x bill length
GREATER COVERTS:	solid med g-b, fading to pale g-b by spring	adult gray	adult gray
LESSER & MED COVERTS:	solid med g-b w/ pale fringe, creating a scaled look	adult gray	adult gray
SCAPULARS:	adult gray; may be mixed w/ some brown	as adult	adult gray w/ small white crescent
BACK:	as scapulars	adult gray	adult gray med-pale on canus, med on henei (w/ gradual cline between?)
RUMP:	white; canus may have some V-marks near tail	white	white
TAIL:	white w/ broad black band w/ pale fringe; white outermost webs; canus has some dark on inner webs that may be visible on outer retrices from above	white	white

The was table created by Steve Hampton and is intended to futher our knowledge of gull identification. Please email me at shampton@ospr.dfg.ca.gov if you have any suggestions for updating or improving this table. Thanks.