Verification of Unusual
Sight Record
For Utah
Rec. # 2010-41
| Common name: |
Lesser Black-backed Gull |
| Scientific name: | Larus fuscus |
| Date: | 02-25-09 |
| Time: | 1445-1520 |
| Length of time observed: | ~ 20 minutes |
| Number: | 1 |
| Age: | Adult |
| Sex: | |
| Location: | Farmington Bay WMA |
| County: | Davis |
| Latilong: | 5 |
| Elevation: | ~ 4300 ft |
| Distance to bird: | 20 m |
| Optical equipment: | 20-60x scope |
| Weather: | clear and calm |
| Light Conditions: | clear direct sunlight |
| Description: Size of bird: | |
| (Description:) Basic Shape: | |
| (Description:) Overall Pattern: | |
| (Description:) Bill Type: | |
|
(Description:)
Field Marks and Identifying Characteristics: |
Small adult Lesser Black-backed Gull. Relatively small and delicate gull.
Considerably smaller than nearby Glacous, Herring, Glacous-winged, Western, and
Thayer's Gulls; slightly larger than Ring-billed Gulls, and about the same size
as California Gulls. Bright white head, nape, throat, chest, belly, undertial coverts, and tail. Dusky streaking behind and above both eyes, and few slight dusky streaks on bottom of hind neck. Eyes pale with red orbital ring. Dark blackish gray mantle. Folded wing with black primary tips and offset white tertial and secondary crescents. Slender yellow bill with large red gonydeal spot. Bright yellow legs. (see photos) |
| Song or call & method of delivery: | na |
| Behavior: | feeding on dead carp, swimming and resting on ice. |
| Habitat: | wetland impoundment |
| Similar
species and
how were they eliminated: |
Other dark-backed and white-headed gulls much larger than this individual. Combination of dark back and yellow legs rules out the majority of gulls. Yellow-footed Gull considerably larger with a heavy stocky build. Kelp Gull larger with greenish yellow legs. |
| Previous
experience with this & similar species: |
yes |
| References consulted: | |
| Description from: | Notes taken at time of sighting |
| Observer: | Rick Fridell |
| Observer's address: | Hurricane, UT |
| Observer's e-mail address: | rfridell@redrock.net |
| Other observers who independently identified this bird: |
although there were a couple Lesser Black-backed Gulls reported during winter 09
at Farmington Bay, I'm not aware of any adults observed that fit this bird. |
| Date prepared: | 10-05-10 |
| Additional material: | Photos |
| Additional_Comments: | Description above copied from field taken while observing gulls at Farmington Bay WMA on 02-25-09. |