re identification of Renton gull, Great Black -Backed Gull or possible
hybrid . Well I have to agree with the finders and observers of this gull
that it is a Great Black-Backed Gull and not some Glaucous x ? hybrid. Some
posters have raised questions about it's ID so I'll add my opinion. The
large size eliminates all species except Great Black -Backed Gull, or
hybrid Glaucous Gull. The strongly bicoloured bill is suggestive of Glaucous
hybrid, but there are many details that eliminate this possibility. First is
the bold checkered scapulars and mantle on a whitish head and underparts,
stronly reminescent of the pattern on an immature Lesser Black-Backed Gull.
Hybrid Glaucous x Herring Gulls tend to have a washed out Herring Gull
pattern, or a Glaucous Gull look with darker wingtips. This birds' strongly
contrasting checkered look is unlike any hybrid Glaucous Gull I have seen,
or photos purported thereof. I read Charlie Wright's description of the bird
and he mentions the white rump and dark contrasting tailband. This feature
is correct for Great Black-Backed Gull and wrong for Herring Gull or hybrids
thereof. I suppose a Western x Glaucous hybrid could look something like
this bird, but range can virtually eliminate this possibility. The plainer
greater coverts are good for GBBG, as are the whiteish tertials, and small
pale tips on the blackish primaries, and checkereed pattern on the underwing
coverts. And the huge largely straight bill is perfect for GBBG. In fact, I
think there are no features that are wrong for GBBG, except the rarity, and
that the bill is similar to Glaucous Gull, with it's black tip and pale
base, but this pattern is fairly common on many large gulls. Awesome find,
and first state record? Send it north when you're done with it. P.S I'll
agree with 2nd basic. Third winter should show more dark mantle feathers.
Mike Tabak Vancouver B.C.