A large Thayer's-like Gull in Connecticut?

Back on March 13th I photographed a large first-cycle Thayer's-like Gull in Stratford, CT. I wasn't sure what to call it at the time, and I still can't put a name to it. Over the past few weeks I've contemplated the bird a bit and sent photos to just a couple folks for input, but otherwise I've hidden the photos away for future headache-inducing analysis. On ID-Frontiers, the current lengthy discussion on vagrant Thayer's Gull ID has shifted a bit to include questions about large Thayer's-like birds seen in eastern North America. Hence the bird below.

Thayer's Gull? Hybrid (if so, what)? Something else? I don't know. (Thoughts from the few experienced folks who commented included unknown hybrid, Thayer's, Herring, 'I don't know' and even Slaty-back. No two people gave the same answer. Love it.)

What exactly we do with birds like this in the east? Other than curse aloud? I think we just try to document them as best we can with hope that we might be able to put a name to them someday (but probably not).

Click to enlarge photos. My field impressions were first of a Thayer's-like plumage pattern, at least superficially, but was struck by the bird's size & structure which I thought was rather HERG-like. Size was similar to the larger Herring Gulls with which it was feeding. Complicating matters is the fact that March isn't the best time to study feather detail thanks to wear & fading.










































unidentified gull, Stratford, CT, 13 Mar 2012

- NB

Comments

  1. Seagull SteveMay 9, 2012 at 9:35 PM

    If I came across this bird here on the west coast, I would quickly eliminate Thayer's on structure alone. The bill is much too heavy and the bird lacks the long-winged appearance Thayer's frequently have when at rest. And, as you mentioned, it's too big.

    The "species" that I would describe as being most Thayer's-like over here in California are Glaucous-winged X Herring hybrids, which have tons of variation but often (as far as plumage goes) end up appearing very similar to Thayer's.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Nick BonomoMay 14, 2012 at 7:22 PM

    Hi Steve,

    I agree, thought in the field size and structure wrong for Thayer's and I still feel that way, though a couple expert gullers have suggested Thayer's.

    This one won't be identified confidently now, if ever. GWGUxHERG is on the list of possibilities. I suspect it's Herring crossed with something.

    ReplyDelete

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