Rare Bird Report #: 60-B-06

IDAHO BIRD RECORDS COMMITTEE
RARE BIRD REPORT FORM

SPECIES:

Black-legged Kittiwake

HOW MANY:

1 juvenile/first winter

REPORTER:

Cliff Weisse
4125 Beaver Springs Rd.
Island Park, ID 83429
208-558-7789

REPORTER EMAIL:

cliffandlisa@octobersetters.com

OTHER OBSERVERS:



DATE REPORT PREPARED:

11/3/06

DATE SIGHTING OCCURRED:

11/3/06

LOCALITY OF OBSERVATION:

American Falls Reservoir, first above the dam resting on the water then below the dam foraging and resting on water.

HABITAT:

Reservoir/river

CONDITIONS:

Bright overcast to partly sunny. Lighting excellent. Wind was strong enough to cause considerable shaking of the scope above the dam but it was dead calm below the dam. Distance varied from several hundred yards to as close as 50 yards (in flight). I spent about 45 minutes observing and photographing the bird below the dam at ranges up to 150 yards. Binocs are Nikon Premier 10 x 42, scope is Swarovski 80mm HD w/20-60x eyepeice.

DID YOU TAKE NOTES?:

Yes, later the same day

DID YOU CONSULT FIELD GUIDE OR OTHER REFERENCES?:

Yes, later the same day

WHAT GUIDE(S) OR REFERENCE(S) DID YOU CONSULT?:

Olsen and Larrson, Gulls of North America, Europe, and Asia

Sibley Guide to Birds

DESCRIPTION:

Smallish Larid, obviously larger than Bonaparte's in direct comparison, with short neck and primary extension beyond tail much less than Bonaparte's. Head White with black ear spot. Bill black, thin but heavier than Bonaparte's with very small gonydeal angle and long gradual downward curve of culmen. Mantle gray similar shade to Bonaparte's in direct comparison. Wide black collar across base of nape extends almost to breast sides. Underparts entirely white. Black carpal bar dark and wide, wider than Bonaparte's in direct comparison. Tertials had gray base and white outer half with black bars extending longitudinally, or parallel with feather shafts, but not necessarily along/on the shafts.

In flight wings had wide black bar all the way across the lesser secondary coverts and possibly some of the median secondary coverts. Outer primaries extensively black. Inner primaries extensively white, creating white triangular patch at bend of wing similar to Sabine's Gull, with trailing edge of secondaries and inner primaries white. Overall pattern of upper wing in flight showed wide black "W", with white triangle pointing forward from trailing edge of wing at wrist. Tail white with narrow black terminal bar. Terminal bar was sharply demarcated, wider in the center and narrowing towards the outer edges, and did not extend all the way to outer web of outer rectrices. Leg color was not seen.

BEHAVIOR:

At first the bird was resting on the water but not roosting. It swam a short distance. It then flew around for several minutes before heading over the dam at approximately 1:30pm. While below the dam it flew around with Bonaparte's Gulls, apparently foraging, but I did not see it eat anything. After 10 minutes or so it landed on the water where it remained until I left at about 2:15pm. No interactions with other species were noted. In flight did not appear as flitty or buoyant as Bonaparte's Gull. Wing beats slower.

HOW AND WHEN DID YOU POSITIVELY IDENTIFY THE BIRD, AND WHAT CLINCHED THE IDENTIFICATION FOR YOU?

I was already aware of the presence of this individual. When I first saw it on the water it appeared larger than Bonaparte's with shorter primary extension beyond the tail and shorter neck. The neck collar was the clincher.

HOW DID YOU ELIMINATE SIMILAR SPECIES, AND WHAT WERE THEY?

No other species of gull has a broad black collar on the hind neck except Red-legged Kittiwake. Bonaparte's, Black-headed, and Little Gulls are similar in wing pattern but lack the black collar. Red-legged Kittiwake does not show black terminal tail band in any plumage.

EXPERIENCE WITH THIS SPECIES (AND SIMILAR SPECIES):

I have seen thousands of Bonaparte's Gulls. This is the first Black-legged Kittiwake I've seen.

GENERAL BIRDING EXPERIENCE:

14 years.

WERE PHOTO(S), VIDEO, AND/OR AUDIO OBTAINED BY YOU?:

Photos