tags: Franklin's Gull, Leucophaeus pipixcan, birds, mystery bird, bird ID quiz
[Mystery birds] Franklin's Gull, Leucophaeus pipixcan, photographed the Quintana Beach and Jetty area, Texas. [I will identify this bird for you tomorrow]
Image: Joseph Kennedy, 18 November 2008 [larger view].
Nikon D200 1/1000s f/8.0 at 1000.0mm iso400.
Please name at least one field mark that supports your identification.
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tags: mystery bird, identify this bird, birds, mystery bird, bird ID quiz
[Mystery birds] Caspian Tern, Sterna caspia, photographed the Quintana Beach and Jetty area, Texas. [I will identify this bird for you tomorrow]
Image: Joseph Kennedy, 18 November 2008 [larger view].
Nikon D200 1/1250s f/8…
tags: mystery bird, identify this bird, birds, mystery bird, bird ID quiz
[Mystery birds]Caspian Tern, Sterna caspia, in a spectacular dive, photographed the Quintana Beach and Jetty area, Texas. [I will identify this bird for you tomorrow]
Image: Joseph Kennedy, 18 November 2008 [larger view].…
tags: Franklin's Gull, Leucophaeus pipixcan, Laughing Gull, Larus atricilla, birds, mystery bird, bird ID quiz
[Mystery birds] Franklin's Gull, Leucophaeus pipixcan, and Laughing Gulls, Larus atricilla, photographed the Quintana Beach and Jetty area, Texas. [I will identify these birds for you…
tags: Roseate Spoonbill, Platalea (Ajaia) ajaj, birds, mystery bird, bird ID quiz
[Mystery birds] Roseate Spoonbill, Ajaia ajaj, photographed at Tom Bass Park, Texas. [I will identify this bird for you tomorrow]
Image: Joseph Kennedy, 20 March 2009 [larger view].
Nikon D200, Kowa 883 telescope…
I'm going to call this a non-breeding Franklin's Gull. The white on the tips of the primaries looks more extensive than a Laughing Gull would have, and what I can see of the white eye arcs also looks relatively thick. Finally, the extent of the dark hood on the back of the head is greater than I'd expect for a Laughing Gull.
I lean toward Laughing Gull. The extent of the dark
hood is pretty variable in winter. John Callender's
point about the white in the primary tips is well
taken, but it seems to me that the bill is too long
and heavy, and I believe I can see a pink tip to it.
I'm going with the Franklin's as well. The bill appears smaller than a Laughing Gull's and there is no apparent gonydeal angle. The extensive white in the primary tips and the extensive dark hood all point to an adult Franklin's Gull. (The reddish tip suggests this bird is getting ready to depart to its breeding grounds.)
This appears to be an adult Franklin's Gull. A 1st winter Laughing Gull would have a lot of brown in the wing coverts and secondaries. A second winter Laughing would not have the distinct white tips on the primaries. The full gray back and wing coverts indicate an adult bird. A wintering adult Laughing would have a much lighter head with little gray. An adult wintering Franklin's has the dark hindcrown and cheek this bird shows.