On a web site of photos of Texas rarities is a supposed Thayer's Gull from
>the Gulf coast.
>
>For those with web capabilities, check the photo out at:
>http://www.metronet.com/~chaynie/thayers.htm
>
>Is the photo shown really a Thayers Gull? It looks too robust to me.

I'm looking closely at Grant's Guide to Gulls, p. 253...the more I look at
the alleged Thayer's Gull on the web,,,the more it looks like a 1st winter
Herring Gull cause:

1- head structure shows perfectly the flattened profile of a Herring Gull
2)-contrasty primaries which Thayer's does not have
3)-dark trailing edge of swcondaries
4)-typical Thayers show a mottled pattern on uppertail
5)-photo shows an individual much to contrasty when viewed from above
for Thayer's in my opinion. Overall, Thayer's appears pretty much concolor
above, except for the tail.
6)-Bill structure is somewahat difficult to discern because of lack of
resolution, but overall, it appears more like a Herring than the slight
structure typically associated with a Thayer's



Andy Stepniewski
Wapato WA