Thayer's Gull (Larus thayeri), Thompson Bay, Lake Havasu, Mohave County

This Thayer's Gull was found and photographed by David Vander Pluym on 05 December 2014

Casual in Az less than 15 state records

Smaller than the average Herring Gull with largely brown plumage. Brown primaries with paler edgings. Small bill and rounded head. In flight it shows the pale underwing caused by the inner webs of the primaries being paler than the outer webs. Glaucous-winged Gulls would typically be larger and bulkier and the primaries would be the same color as the tertials. A hybrid Glaucous-winged x Herring Gull would be similar in plumage but would typically be larger and bulkier.

05 December 2014, photo by David Vander Pluym

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