Western Gull (Larus occidentalis)

The Western Gull is a large sized seagull that has grey back, black wing tips with white spots (or "mirrors"), pink legs, a bright yellow bill with a red subterminal spot. The eyes of the western gull are brown -- this is an important field mark that dintinguishes western gulls from herring gulls (L. argentatus) along with the darker plumage on the back of the western gulls. The individuals with lighter plumage on the back could can be a hybrid of western gull and glaucous-winged gull (L. glaucescens).

The photo shows the western gull in flight.

Seal Rock, OR
2008-03-17

From below, the wings of the western gulls exhibits large portions of black area at the extreme end region of the wings. The western gulls fly low and they can stay in the air for quite a while, sometimes looking down directly at us.