This is the way I remember how to distinguish Pacific from Kelp Gull... the upper and lower mandible of beak is coloured red on the Pacific... think of the Pacific Ocean being expansive... so is the red of that beak... Kelp Gulls don't have all that red...
Tim, some describe Pacific Gulls by year (how old the bird is) and that is gauged according to the colouring of the beak, and feathers. Again I am know expert, but it looks a lot like a 3rd year, in comparison to the picture in Morcombe and Stewarts app for the iPhone. Agree with Woko (as posted under Best Photos), the heavier beak is a good indicator. Also immature Kelp will have black beak, while immature Pacific will have the yellowish beak. Juvenile Pacific will have a "Pinkish base" with the black "Lipstick" on both upper and lower beak, the Kelp will have a darker beak, which may also to appear to have it's "Lipstick" on both upper and lower beak.
Essentially the heavy beak, yellow in colour with "Lipstick" on both upper and lower, with dark almost black wing colouring, and the mottled white starting to come through confirms for me a Pacific Gull, not entirely sure what year, guessing somewhere between 2 and 3, as beyond this it would have adult colouring I think.
It's a Pacific Gull. I don't know what you mean by year?
Pacific Gull.
This is the way I remember how to distinguish Pacific from Kelp Gull... the upper and lower mandible of beak is coloured red on the Pacific... think of the Pacific Ocean being expansive... so is the red of that beak... Kelp Gulls don't have all that red...
LJ
Tim, some describe Pacific Gulls by year (how old the bird is) and that is gauged according to the colouring of the beak, and feathers. Again I am know expert, but it looks a lot like a 3rd year, in comparison to the picture in Morcombe and Stewarts app for the iPhone. Agree with Woko (as posted under Best Photos), the heavier beak is a good indicator. Also immature Kelp will have black beak, while immature Pacific will have the yellowish beak. Juvenile Pacific will have a "Pinkish base" with the black "Lipstick" on both upper and lower beak, the Kelp will have a darker beak, which may also to appear to have it's "Lipstick" on both upper and lower beak.
Essentially the heavy beak, yellow in colour with "Lipstick" on both upper and lower, with dark almost black wing colouring, and the mottled white starting to come through confirms for me a Pacific Gull, not entirely sure what year, guessing somewhere between 2 and 3, as beyond this it would have adult colouring I think.
As always happy to stand corrected.
Dale Huonville, Tasmania
Thanks, that's what I thought but I've never seen gulls in my field guides described by years.
Thanks all for your help.
I believe that Dale is corect with years based on my very limited views of Pacific Gull.
If you want to be sure use http://whatbird.com/ they are great at identifying North American birds including years for gulls.
Peter