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adult California Gull

Figs 1 and 2) A typical adult, already in breeding plumage in March. In flight, notice the dark gray underside of the secondaries, which allows Californias to be distinguished from other western species (which are either darker or lighter here) at a great height. March 23, 2011. Clearlake, Calfornia. Photo courtesy of Steve Hampton.

Fig 3) A basic and alternate adult side by side, which you can see in March. Note how bright yellow the legs and bill have become in the breeding-plumaged bird. March 23, 2011. Clearlake, Calfornia. Photo courtesy of Steve Hampton.

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Fig 4) Two breeding-plumaged birds with a large male Herring Gull (still with some winter streaking) in the background. It's not apparent in this photo, but most lighting conditions show California Gull to be obviously darker-mantled than Herring and Ring-billed Gulls. March 23, 2011. Clearlake, Calfornia. Photo courtesy of Steve Hampton.

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Figs 5 and 6) Two more examples of primary patterns (see also Fig 2). They all show the same thing: a large mirror on P10, usually separated from tip by very thin black line (not on the left wing in Fig 2); small-med mirror on P9; black band to P5. March 23, 2011. Clearlake, Calfornia. Photo courtesy of Steve Hampton.

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Fig 7) A typical winter-plumaged bird. March 23, 2011. Clearlake, Calfornia. Photo courtesy of Steve Hampton.

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Fig 8) Most adults reach breeding plumage by March, some even in February. Note the winter-plumaged adult on the left. Also, there are two first cycle birds in the middle and one second cycle in the upper right corner. March 23, 2011. Clearlake, Calfornia. Photo courtesy of Steve Hampton.

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