Sighting Record for Utah

Common name:	Laughing Gull
Scientific name:	Leucophaeus atricilla
Date:	10/27/26
Time:	1:10 pm
Length of time observed:	probably 25-30 mins in totality
Number:
Age:	non adult
Sex:
Location:	Road from Lincoln to Lebarron Point - Goose Point
County:	Utah Co
Latilong:
Elevation:
Distance to bird:	hard to say, at closest maybe 100-150 yards
Optical equipment:	Vortex Diamondbacks HD, Leupold sx-4
Weather:
Light Conditions:
Description: Size of bird:	smaller than CAGU, nearing RBGU
(Description:) Basic Shape:	Gull
(Description:) Overall Pattern:
(Description:) Bill Type:	long droopy Gull bill
(Description:) Field Marks and Identifying Characteristics:	After leaving my vantage where I had just had a WIWR, I stopped at one of my favorite vantages on the drive; a high point overlooking the bay on the south side of Goose Point. Here there have been many thousands of shorebirds, gulls, geese, and recently ducks. After a bit, I spotted a distant dark headed gull. Assuming FRGU I watched it for a while and thought the bill looked huge, even from a distance. After a few minutes it picked up with some CAGU and flew closer. It was noticeably smaller than the CAGU, but nearing RBGU size, of which there were not many to compare it to. Once closer, I could see the bill was substantial. Not only long, but droopy, which is apparent in every standing photo I took of the bird. The head showed an obvious but messy dark cap, which is consistent with both FRGU and LAGU in nonbreeding. The flanks and chest had a gray wash which is somewhat blown out in a photo or two, but visible in others. The mantle shade was darkish compared to the Larus around. No white tertial crescents were visible, wing tips all black, and some brown feathering probably placing this bird as a first winter gull. I watched this bird here for probably 10-15 mins, and gathered as many digiscope photos as i could, which of course are dogwater quality. Heat haze and distance as we all know make digiscope photos turn out a strong percentage worse than physical views. Regardless I gathered the clearest photos which again, all show a long droopy bill. After that time, the bird picked up and flew with CAGU s. This immediately pinged my wtf meter as it seemed substantially long and pointy winged, and the flight style was one I am not used to with FRGU s - fast, somewhat powerful, and direct. It fit in well with the Larus around, to which its flight style was quite similar. I was able to refind it in scope with my phone camera while in flight and fire off some more photos, which show what again looks to be rather long, pointy, sharpwings. Note the thin white trailing edge, dark secondaries, substantially dark shoulder into the primaries, and substantially dark underwing, all the way up into the hand of the underwing. A bit troubling at the time was the light collar this bird showed below the back of the nape contrasted with the dark of the back of the head. However this seems to be quite variable. I was able to find examples of various aged birds on Macaulay Library of LAGU s showing light gray to even white napes, which in the harsh light conditions and digiscope quality could appear washed out, or substantially light. After attempting flight shots, I was able to watch this bird while flying upwards, eventually grabbing thermals and soaring in a kettle with Larus, and finally heading out west together towards the Mosida pump house. (see photos)
Song or call & method of delivery:
Behavior:	With Larus on the mudflats
Habitat:	Mudflats
Similar species and how were they eliminated:	FRGU - this bird had far too long a droopy of a bill, compared to the shorter straighter bills of FRGU s. The posture seemed more upright and lanky. The wing structure was longer, more pointed, as opposed to the shorter, more blunted wings of a FRGU. The flight style seemed off for a FRGU, more powerful and direct, more larus-like, as opposed to the fluttery, LIGU-like flight style of a FRGU. The wing pattern (albeit incredibly variable among both species) seemed darker farther into the wing especially from the underwing, with thin white secondary edges from above. All things considered point away from FRGU and towards LAGU. Larus or Hybrids - Really no evidence on this bird that would indicate any sort of crazy hybrid. plumage, wing pattern, shape all suggest a dark headed gull.
Previous experience with this & similar species:	LAGU - none FRGU - likely hundreds of thousands between the absurd amount on the causeway in breeding, and even Utah lake, which depending on lake levels gets some large breeding flocks.
References consulted:	Amar Ayyash-The Gull Guide, Sibley, Macaulay Library
Description from:	Notes taken at the time of the sighting
Observer:	Mckay Olson
Observer's address:
Observer's e-mail address:	**
Other observers who independently identified this bird:
Date prepared:	10/28/26
Additional material:	Photos
Additional comments:	https://ebird.org/checklist/S405929516