I am finally giving in and working on my gull skills. As with anything new, it seems quite daunting. "Where do I begin? There are just so many variations? I'll never learn this. Who cares?"  All the self doubt, fear of failure, fear of feeling stupid or being found out that I am a sham, seems to apply to gull ? ID, new art, and any new skill. But, I find when I take a deep breath and approach it methodically and patiently, it all starts to come together.  I am not an expert overnight and I still have a long way to go, but making the effort sure helps.  

This will be a living blog that I will update as I get new information, insights, and photos. If you find I have made an error, please let me know. I will correct it and learn. If you know another source, let me know. If you find this helpful, let me know.

So here goes. I am highlighting a few key points that will help me in the field and help me to remember the differences.

Local Gulls in Size Order:

BOGU Bonaparte's Gull - Chroicocephalus philadelphia (13.5") Two-year gull
Pigeon size, Black bill,  Post occular spot, Generally don't mix with others

SBIG Short-billed Gull - Larus brachyrhynchus (17") Three-year gull
Similar to Ring-billed, but smaller bill and shorter legs. Dark iris on adult.  Winters on the coast

RBGU Ring-billed Gull - Larus delawarensis (17.5") Three-year gull  
Pale mantle

HEEG Heerman's Gull -Larus heermanni (19") Four-year Gull   
Distinctive, dark easy to identify

Heerman's Gull - Larus heermanniOrder: CHARADRIIFORMES - Plovers, Sandpipers, and Allies Family: LARIDAE - Gulls, Terns, and Skimmers Immature, Alamitos Bay, 12/09/2011 1st Winter all dark brown, pale bill

Heerman's Gull - Larus heermanni (immature)Order: CHARADRIIFORMES - Plovers, Sandpipers, and Allies Family: LARIDAE - Gulls, Terns, and Skimmers Marina Stadium, Long Beach 12/03/2014 2nd Winter uniformly dark, but more sooty

Heerman's Gull - Larus heermanniOrder: CHARADRIIFORMES - Plovers, Sandpipers, and Allies Family: LARIDAE - Gulls, Terns, and Skimmers Winter Plummage, Alamitos Bay 11/23/2010 3rd Winter similar to non-breeding adult Winter Adult (non-breeding) red bill

Heerman's Gull - Larus heermanniMalibu Lagoon 06/14/2106 Breeding Adult

CAGU California Gull - Larus californicus (21") Four-year Gull  
Variable, mantle lighter than western, adult yellowish legs, dark eye, slim straight bill

Thayers (23)"  Four-year Gull - UNCOMMON IN OUR AREA
Highly Variable

Yellow-footed (24") Four-year Gull - UNCOMMON IN OUR AREA

I got nothing

WEGU  Western Gull - Larus occidentalis (25")  Four-year Gull
Adults White head, dark gray back, pink legs, large yellow bill with red dot,thick tipped, slightly drooping, darker eyes

AMHG  American Herring Gull - Larus smithsonianus (25") Four-year Gull
Mantle lighter than California Gull, Highly variable

Section needs work

GWGU  Glaucous-winged Gull - Larus glaucescens (26")  Four-year Gull
Bill shape variable, unpatterned and uniformly colored plumage. Wing tips same color as back.
Hybridizes

Same Year Birds:

First year birds 

Adult 

And now for some side by side comparisons:

1st Winter California Gull - Larus californicus, Dana Point, Glaucous-winged Gull - Larus (r)1st Winter California Gull - Larus californicus, Dana Point, Glaucous-winged Gull - Larus (r) Dana Point, San Juan Creek Mouth 12/11/2016

CAGU GWGU

1st winter birds California Gull - Larus californicus, Western Gull - Larus occidentalis1st winter birds California Gull - Larus californicus, Western Gull - Larus occidentalis Dana Point, San Juan Creek Mouth 12/11/2016

CAGU  WEGU

Dana Point, San Juan Creek Mouth 12/11/2016

WEGU  CAGU

Western Gull - Larus occidentalis ( Winter Adult (l) and 2nd Winter (r))Western Gull - Larus occidentalis ( Winter Adult (l) and 2nd Winter (r)) Dana Point, San Juan Creek Mouth 12/11/2016

WEGU (Adult and 2nd)

(l) Ring-billed Gull - Larus delawarensis, (r) Western Gull - Larus occidentalis (Winter Adults)(l) Ring-billed Gull - Larus delawarensis, (r) Western Gull - Larus occidentalis (Winter Adults) Dana Point, San Juan Creek Mouth 12/11/2016

RBGU  WEGU

Ring-billed Gull (Winter Adult), Western Gull (2nd Winter)Ring-billed Gull (Winter Adult), Western Gull (2nd Winter) Dana Point, San Juan Creek Mouth 12/11/2016

RBGU  WEGU (2nd)