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first cycle
Western Gull
Figs 1 and 2) A fresh juvenile wymani. Note the overall dark face and upperparts. In flight, note the solid dark primaries and rather solid greater coverts. September 20, 1998. Ventura, California. Photos courtesy of Don DesJardin.
Figs 3 and 4) Juvenile occidentalis. These very sooty birds are fresh off the nest. August 19, 2011. Año Nuevo Island, California. Photo courtesy of Steve Hampton.

Fig 5) Juvenile occidentalis. Note the dark head, large bill, and solid outer greater coverts. Photo courtesy of Ron Saldino.

Figs 6, 7, and 8) Juvenile occidentalis in flight. Note the dark greater coverts in flight, the negligable pale window on the inner primaries, and the solid dark tail. Western, Yellow-footed, and Glaucous-winged Gulls are the only large gulls with solid tails in first cycle plumage. All others show some pale barring to the bases of the outer retrices, most easily visible from below. This is rare on Western Gulls. Photos courtesy of Ron Saldino.
Figs 9 and 10) This unusually white bird, even for spring, is presumably a Western Gull, at least based on location, as well as bill and head shape and the shade of "adult gray" on the back. There are some unusual characteristics of this bird: the pale barring on the outer rectrices is very unusual in Western; the pale pink legs were paler than adjacent Westerns; and the white head exceeds even typical second cycle Western in lack of markings.

In flight, note the slight pale window of the inner primaries, not as strong as Herring, and seemingly within the range of Western.

March 30, 1997. Ventura, California. Photos courtesy of Don DesJardin.