Identification of American Herring Gull in a western European context
49
50
51
52
41 American Herring Gull / Amerikaanse Zilvermeeuw Larus smithsonianus, second-winter, Boston, Massachusetts, USA, January 2001 (Pat Lonergan). Very distinctive individual. Note rather Glaucous Gull L hyperboreus-like demeanour and lack of any clear grey feathers in upperparts. 42 American Herring Gull / Amerikaanse Zilvermeeuw Larus smithsonianus, second-winter, Boston, Massachusetts, USA, January 2001 (Pat Lonergan). Note rather simple pattern on scapulars and tertials and lack of any barring in plumage apart from vermiculation on greater coverts; also, note diagnostic, practically solid-brown longest undertail-coverts. 43 American Herring Gull / Amerikaanse Zilvermeeuw Larus smithsonianus, second-winter, Boston, Massachusetts, USA, January 2001 (Pat Lonergan). As in plate 42, note simple pattern to scapulars with practically no barring. Unusually for second-winter, note dark bill. 44 American Herring Gull / Amerikaanse Zilvermeeuw Larus smithsonianus, second-winter, Boston, Massachusetts, USA, January 1998 (Pat Lonergan). Note extensive brown wash to underparts and dark tertials. 45 American Herring Gull / Amerikaanse Zilvermeeuw Larus smithsonianus, second-winter, Boston, Massachusetts, USA, February 1999 (Killian Mullarney). Note dark lower hindneck extending onto underparts and rather uniform tertials. 46 American Herring Gull / Amerikaanse Zilvermeeuw Larus smithsonianus, second-winter, Boston, Massachusetts, USA, February 1999 (Pat Lonergan) 47 American Herring Gull / Amerikaanse Zilvermeeuw Larus smithsonianus, second-winter, Long Island, New York, USA, January 1992 (Pat Lonergan). Note rather greenish-toned bill, extensively dark tail and solid-brown undertail-coverts. 48 American Herring Gull / Amerikaanse Zilvermeeuw Larus smithsonianus, second-winter, Boston, Massachusetts, USA, February 1999 (Killian Mullarney). Note rather uniformly coloured tertials. 49 American Herring Gull / Amerikaanse Zilvermeeuw Larus smithsonianus, second-winter, Boston, Massachusetts, USA, January 1999 (Pat Lonergan). Very dark individual. Note very uniformly patterned undertail-coverts. 50 American Herring Gull / Amerikaanse Zilvermeeuw Larus smithsonianus, second-winter, Boston, Massachusetts, USA, February 1999 (Pat Lonergan). Conclusive identification of individuals looking like this bird, and perhaps the bird in plate 52, would pose a challenge in Europe. 51 American Herring Gull / Amerikaanse Zilvermeeuw Larus smithsonianus, second-winter, Boston, Massachusetts, USA, January 2001 (Killian Mullarney). Note uniformly dark brown lower hindneck and upper mantle extending onto underparts, and tertials with limited pale markings. 52 American Herring Gull / Amerikaanse Zilvermeeuw Larus smithsonianus, second-winter, Boston, Massachusetts, USA, January 1998 (Pat Lonergan). Lightly marked individual, not so different from some European Herring Gulls L argentatus.
19