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Posted by John Askildsen on 19:00:18 04/10/13
In Reply to: Re: Possible Slaty-backed Gull at Florida Keys Wild Bird Rehab Center, Tavernier posted by Toe
i examined this bird closely, and in fact, despite what this photo may 'seem' to show, the bird did not have yellow, but light 'pinkish' legs-i don't trust photos to show true color-i've learned that the hard way. while the legs were not 'bubblegum' pink, as one would expect in an adult slaty-backed, they were light pinkish. having said that, lesser-blacks can show pinkish or chalk colored legs on occasion. but leg color is far from the only field mark one should use when discerning slaty-backed from other species.
there were a number of field marks, that to me, do not speak of lesser-black. the bill is huge, the eye is white or light, the forehead protrudes, and the streaking on the head and neck does not fit lesser-black, in my view. while the streaking does not extend down the sides, it is late in the season, and this feature may have worn off. however the eye smudge seemed good for slaty-backedit was a very husky bird, too.
the mantle color was really seemed wrong for (intermediate) lesser-black. the trailing edge of the wings exhibited very wide, white trailing margins, far wider than what a lesser-black should have. this field mark was rather striking to me.
there are remnants of the tail band and it seemed far wider than it should be for lesser-black.
since the bird was released it is now all a moot point, i guess. but i can tell you, having seen numbers of both species, this was no lesser-black.
unfortunately, i could not get good views of the mirrors on the undersides of the outer primaries.
regards,
John Askildsen
Millbrook, NY
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