Breeding Adult Identification

Identification Chart for Pacific Northwest Gulls (Breeding Adults)

White Head, White Tail

Species Mantle Bill Legs Iris Eyering
Species Ivory Mantle white Bill yellowish with greenish base and orange tip Legs black Iris brown Eyering red
Species Glaucous Mantle very pale gray Bill yellow with red spot Legs pink Iris pale yellow Eyering yellow to yellow-orange
Species Iceland Mantle very pale gray Bill yellow with red spot Legs pink Iris pale yellow Eyering red
Species Herring Mantle pale gray Bill yellow with red spot Legs pink Iris pale yellow Eyering yellow-orange
Species Thayer’s Mantle pale gray Bill yellow with red spot Legs pink Iris brown to dull yellow Eyering reddish-purple
Species Ring-billed Mantle pale gray Bill yellow with black ring Legs yellow Iris pale yellow Eyering orange-red
Species Ross’s Mantle pale gray Bill blackish Legs red Iris brown Eyering red
Species Glaucous-winged Mantle neutral gray Bill yellow with red spot Legs pink Iris brown to pale brown Eyering pink to purple
Species California Mantle neutral gray Bill yellow with red and black spots Legs green to gray Iris brown Eyering red
Species Mew Mantle neutral gray Bill dull yellow Legs dull yellow Iris brown Eyering red
Species Black-legged Kittiwake Mantle neutral gray Bill yellow Legs black Iris brown Eyering red
Species Western Mantle dark gray Bill yellow with red spot Legs pink Iris yellow to pale brown Eyering yellow-orange
Species Red-legged Kittiwake Mantle dark gray Bill yellow Legs red Iris brown Eyering red
Species Great Black-backed Mantle very dark gray Bill yellow with red spot Legs pink Iris pale yellow Eyering red
Species Slaty-backed Mantle very dark gray Bill yellow with red spot Legs pink Iris pale yellow Eyering reddish
Species Lesser Black-backed Mantle very dark gray Bill yellow with red spot Legs yellow Iris pale yellow Eyering red

 

White Head, Dark Tail

Species Mantle Bill Legs Iris Eyering
Species Heermann’s Mantle dark brownish-gray Bill red with black tip Legs black Iris brown Eyering red

 

Dark (Black, Dark Brown, Gray) Head, White Tail

Species Mantle Bill Legs Iris Eyering
Species Black-headed Mantle very pale gray Bill dark red Legs dark red Iris brown Eyering maroon-red
Species Bonaparte’s Mantle pale gray Bill black Legs orange-red Iris brown Eyering black
Species Little Mantle pale gray Bill blackish Legs reddish Iris brown Eyering brown
Species Sabine’s Mantle neutral gray Bill black with yellow tip Legs black Iris brown Eyering red
Species Laughing Mantle dark gray Bill dark red Legs dark red Iris brown Eyering red
Species Franklin’s Mantle dark gray Bill red Legs red Iris brown Eyering red