 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
|
Scrolling down shows a sequence of the plumages of Western Gull, from adult breeding to downy chick. Western x Glaucous-winged hybrids are common; two probable examples if you scroll to the bottom here. |
|
Western Gull, Larus occidentalis |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Probable adult albino Western Gull here. |
|
|
 |
|
|
 |
|
|
Left, above, and below, breeding plumage, almost indistinguishable from adult winter plumage. Most gull species have pure white heads when breeding, streaked heads in winter; Western Gull has pure white all year round. |
|
|
|
 |
|
|
 |
|
|
Adult winter plumage, in flight below, standing above. |
|
|
 |
|
|
 |
|
|
 |
|
|
Three pictures, above, left, and below, of third winter birds; like adult, but no white tips to the primaries, the gonys still mostly dark, usually some dark feathers in the tail, seen in all three of these, and sometimes, a few brown feathers in the upperparts. |
|
|
|
 |
|
|
 |
|
|
 |
|
|
Second summer birds, above and left: white rump and head; first appearance of red in the gonys; adult gray mantle and median coverts; immature brown flight feathers and lesser coverts. |
|
|
|
 |
|
|
 |
|
|
Second winter, left and above, showing a mostly adult white head, and a mix of adult gray and immature brown feathering on the upperparts. The pattern on the bill varies a lot in immature birds after the first winter. |
|
|
|
 |
|
|
 |
|
|
Left and above, first summer birds; head feathers lighter than first winter; flight feathers retained, very worn and ragged. |
|
|
|
 |
|
|
 |
|
|
First winter, November above; left and below, September and August birds still almost entirely in juvenal plumage. |
|
|
|
 |
|
|
 |
|
|
 |
|
|
Three juveniles, fully fledged, begging in unison. |
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
Two downy chicks, eyes only partly open, not long out of the egg. |
|