IDAHO BIRD RECORDS COMMITTEE
RARE BIRD REPORT FORM

SPECIES:

Little Gull

HOW MANY:

1 gull was seen ( first summer-2nd winter)

REPORTER:

Angie Branch
6607 s Gold Medal Dr.
West Jordan, Utah
84084
801-209-7547

REPORTER EMAIL:

moabgirl@gmail.com

OTHER OBSERVERS:

None

DATE REPORT PREPARED:

July 20th, 2007

DATE SIGHTING OCCURRED:

July 16th, 2007

LOCALITY OF OBSERVATION:

Twin Lakes, ID
East of Preston
On mud flats opposite of dam

HABITAT:

mud flats, fresh water lake

CONDITIONS:

observed the bird 15-20 min

It was sunny with some cloud cover after a rain/thunder storm.

Temps were in the 90's. The bird was between 7- 10 feet the duration of the observation. No optics were used.

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?:

The Sibley guide to birds, David Allen Sibley, first edition, 6th printing.
Pete Dunne's Essential Field guide companion, Pete Dunne, 2006
Birds, Kaufman guide, Kenn Kaufman, 2000
National Geographic guide,Birds of north America, 3rd edition.
Identify yourself, Bill Thompson III, 2005

DESCRIPTION:

A Small gull (larus) was observed. The gull was about half the size of the ring billed gulls but larger than the killdeer that were seen next to it. The gull appeared round bodied with a round head and thin neck. Small straight black bill and dark eye (did not observe a dark ear spot). It had a LIGHT grey (shade similar to ring billed gull in direct comparison) back that hooked slightly around its "shoulders, went up the back of its neck, and capped its head at the peak of its head (not all the way to the bill). White underparts. Short pink legs. Wing tip projection was barely longer than the tail (giving the gull a round appearance) ---short wings. In flight, trailing edge on upper wings was white. DARKER patterning on the under wing was also observed. Species had a square tail with black tail band and terminal white edge. Black on upper wing tips. It was quite tame and allowed approach.

BEHAVIOR:

Sat near, but away from, the group of ring billed gulls. Walked down the shoreline, "pecked" at the mud periodically, and swam (briefly). My presence could have altered its behavior.

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

I did not have a book or optics when I saw the bird. I observed it systematically. Then after the bird flew, I returned to my car (about 15 min post observation) and referred to the Sibley guide. I felt it resembled the Little gull species due to the shape and size of the bird. The wing patterns resembled the 2nd winter and the tail the first summer. None of the other similar species fit the species seen. I chose to leave it unidentified till I could refer to other guides since it was a bird I had not seen before and it was rare for the time of year and location. I then took notes (without the guide) to refer to till I had more information. Since, I felt strongly that it was the little gull I tried to disprove my theory (of little gull). I referred to the Sibley and national geographic guides in reference to the other hooded gulls and tried to prove that it could be one of them. I was able to disprove each one using my written notes. The most convincing body of evidence was it's wing pattern when it flew (dark under wings and white terminal edge of upper wing). But its small compact size, black small bill, pink legs, and short wing tip projection also define this species. Finally when I still could not disprove my theory I looked for other sources of information by going to the library (refer to sources listed). These other sources, especially Pete Dunne's book gave me confidence that I could see this gull, in Idaho, at this time of year and mirrored my written account for little gull.

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

I systematically went through the other small gull species and tried to prove that they were the gull I saw while referencing my notes. Here is why I think these gulls don't fit the gull I saw.....

Franklin's: this gull shows the white trailing edge in flight and black

wingtips like the gull I saw but, its size is to big(using ring billed gull and killdeer as comparison), its black cap would have stood out- no eye arcs, darker charcoal back (using ring billed for comparison), and its bill is larger and thicker.

Sabine's: The Sabine's gull has longer pointier wings that would project beyond its tail. It has a tern like appearance. Its white wing patterning STANDS out in flight and is diagnostic for this species. I did not see this pattern.It has white under wings instead of dark under wings like the species I saw. It also has lighter tipped bill- (may not have seen w/o binoculars)

Bonaparte's: Appears tern like as well, with long- pointed wings. The bill is larger and the Bonaparts does not have a a trailing white edge on the wings. Its wings have a white triangle or leading edge of wings that I did not see. It also has white under wing. This gull tends to be social- traveling in groups.

Laughing and black headed gulls: TOO big in size and bill (bill color is wrong -black headed)

Ross's: Have grey under wing but the tail of the bird I saw was square where the Ross's is pointed. The grey head patterning I saw is absent on this species. The bill is much more petite than the bird seen.

EXPERIENCE WITH THIS SPECIES (AND SIMILAR SPECIES):

I have never seen this species of gull. I am familiar with the common gulls in Utah/Idaho. Of the similar species I compared, I have seen Franklin's, Sabine's (once), and Bonaparte's. I have birded for 9 years in Utah. The Franklin's gull is a familiar sighting. The Bonaparte's gull I have seen numerous times during the winter season flying and swimming. The Sabine's was seen along the Antlope island causway, in Utah, once.

GENERAL BIRDING EXPERIENCE:

I initially started birding in 1998 in a course at the university of Utah (ornithology). I then took an advanced ornithology course where we had to observe preening behavior of birds and learned how to document sightings. I have birded ever since. I have seen around 400 different species. I have seen 13 of the North America gulls.

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

None