Subject: gull leg color
Date: Oct 25 09:41:34 1994
From: Dennis Paulson - dpaulson at ups.edu


In response to Gene Hunn's posting, I think California Gulls often get
orange legs on the breeding grounds, presumably because they produce more
intense carotenoid pigments on the breeding grounds (many gulls get
brighter bare parts in spring, not sure whether change in diet important in
this), and we see these birds when they arrive in early fall. I guess the
color goes away on their seafood diet (or when it is programmed to go
away).


Dennis Paulson phone: (206) 756-3798
Slater Museum of Natural History fax: (206) 756-3352
University of Puget Sound email: dpaulson at ups.edu
Tacoma, WA 98416