Birds of Southern California
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    • 2022 Bird of the Year
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    • Birds of the Past >
      • 2021 Bird of the Year
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      • Older BOTW 04-2018 to 09-2019
      • Older BOTW 09-2017 to 04-2018
      • Older BOTW 06-2016 to 08-2017
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      • BIRDS ofthe DAY 2018
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    • Local-birds of area >
      • IRVINE
      • Santa Rosa Plateau 3-9-2019
      • RIVERSIDE
      • SAN DIEGO
      • San Diego 3-27-2019
      • OCEANSIDE
      • DANA POINT
      • LAKE ELSINORE
      • LAKE ELSINORE 2019
      • LAKE ELSINORE 11-23-2019
      • PERRIS
      • WINCHESTER/LAKE SKINNER
      • Whelan Lake
      • Wild Bird Center, Indio
      • TEMECULA
    • RED WHITE AND BLUE
    • Murrieta Mountain Blue
    • I AM THE BIRD
    • Thanks Firefighters
    • BABIES PLUS
    • FAVORITES I
    • FAVORITES II
    • DUCK HYBRIDS
  • BIRDS
    • TREE TOPPERS >
      • ANI CUCKOO DOVE PIGEON
      • WOODPECKER
      • FLICKER SAPSUCKER
      • KINGFISHER SHRIKE TANAGER
      • BUNTING CARDINAL DICKCISSEL GROSBEAK PYRRHULOXIA
      • BUDGERIGAR COCKATIEL PARAKEET PARROT
    • BUSH LEAGUERS >
      • CHAT OVENBIRD REDSTART WARBLER YELLOWTHROAT
      • PARULA WARBLER 2
      • WARBLER 3 WHITE-EYE WATERTHRUSH
      • SPARROW
      • JUNCO TOWHEE
      • WREN WRENTIT
      • BUSHTIT CHICKADEE TITMOUSE VERDIN
      • CATBIRD LARK MOCKINGBIRD THRASHER
      • PHAINOPEPLA PIPIT STARLING WAGTAIL WAXWING
      • CREEPER LONGSPUR NUTHATCH
      • CROSSBILL FINCH GOLDFINCH SISKIN
      • BISHOP MUNIA WAXBILL WHYDAH
    • BLACK BIRDS AND ALLIES >
      • CROW GRACKLE RAVEN
      • BLACKBIRD
      • BOBOLINK COWBIRD
      • JAY MAGPIE MEADOWLARK NUTCRACKER ORIOLE
    • SEAFARERS >
      • GULL​ KITTIWAKE
      • BOOBY CORMORANT FRIGATEBIRD​ PELICAN
      • SKIMMER TERN
      • ALBATROSS FULMAR JAEGER SHEARWATER SKUA
      • AUKLET GUILLEMOTE MURRE MURRELET PUFFIN STORM-PETREL TROPICBIRD
    • AQUATIC CRUISERS >
      • GREBE LOON
      • BUFFLEHEAD DUCK MALLARD SCOTER
      • CANVASBACK GADWALL GARGANEY GOLDENEYE MERGANSER SCAUP
      • EIDER PINTAIL REDHEAD SHOVELER TEAL WIGEON
      • BRANT GOOSE SWAN
    • SHORE PATROL >
      • DOWITCHER DUNLIN KNOT RUFF SURFBIRD TURNSTONE
      • CURLEW GODWIT TATTLER WHIMBREL YELLOWLEGS
      • KILLDEER PLOVER SANDERLING WILLET
      • PHALAROPE SANDPIPER SNIPE STINT
    • WETLAND WADERS >
      • BITTERN EGRET IBIS SPOONBILL
      • CRANE HERON STORK
      • COOT GALLINULE RAIL SORA
      • AVOCET OYSTERCATCHER STILT
    • BIRDS OF PREY >
      • CONDOR EAGLE OSPREY VULTURE
      • HARRIER HAWK KITE
      • CARACARA FALCON GYRFALCON KESTREL MERLIN
      • OWL
    • AVIAN AERIALISTS >
      • MARTIN SWALLOW
      • HUMMINGBIRD SWIFT
      • BLUEBIRD DIPPER ROBIN SOLITAIRE THRUSH
    • GROUND HUGGERS >
      • PEAFOWL PEACOCK
      • CHUKAR GUINEAFOWL PHEASANT QUAIL TURKEY
      • CHICKEN EMU OSTRICH ROADRUNNER
    • PEST CONTROL >
      • FLYCATCHER PEWEE
      • KINGBIRD PHOEBE
      • BULBUL KINGLET
      • GNATCATCHER ​VIREO
      • NIGHTHAWK POORWILL
  • IN ORDER
    • Group1 Ducks Doves + + >
      • ANSERIFORMES: -BRANT GOOSE SWAN
      • DUCKS ===> >
        • -BUFFLEHEAD DUCK​​ MALLARD SCOTER
        • -CANVASBACK GADWALL GARGANEY GOLDENEYE MERGANSER SCAUP
        • -EIDER PINTAIL REDHEAD SHOVELER TEAL WIGEON
      • GALLIFORMES: -CHUKAR ​GUINEAFOWL PHEASANT QUAIL TURKEY
      • -PEAFOWL PEACOCK
      • PODICIPEDIFORMES: -GREBE
      • DOVE AND KIN >
        • Columbiformes: ​-DOVE PIGEON
      • CUCKOO >
        • Cuculiformes: -ANI CUCKOO
        • -ROADRUNNER
      • Nighthawks >
        • Caprimulgiformes: -NIGHTHAWK POORWILL
      • Hummingbird and kin >
        • Apodiformes: -HUMMINGBIRD SWIFT
      • RAIL and kin >
        • GRUIFORMES: -COOT GALLINULE RAIL SORA
        • -CRANE
    • GROUP2 Sea&Shore birds >
      • Charadriiformes: -SHOREBIRDS ===> >
        • -AVOCETS OYSTERCATCHER STILT
        • -DOWITCHER DUNLIN KNOT RUFF SURFBIRD TURNSTONE
        • -CURLEW GODWIT TATTLER WHIMBREL YELLOWLEGS
        • -KILLDEER PLOVER SANDERLING WILLET​
        • -PHALAROPE SANDPIPER SNIPE STINT
      • JAEGER SKUA ===> >
        • -JAEGER SKUA
      • ALCIDA ===> >
        • -AUKLET GUILLEMOTE MURRE MURRELET PUFFIN STORM-PETREL TROPICBIRD
      • GULL TERNS SKIMMERS ===> >
        • -GULL KITTIWAKE
        • -TERN SKIMMER
      • LOON >
        • GAVIIFORMES: -LOONS
      • STORK >
        • Ciconiiformes: -STORK
      • BOOBY and kin >
        • SULIFORMES: -BOOBY FRIGATEBIRD
      • PELICAN OR HERON LIKE >
        • PELECANIFORMES: -CORMORANT PELICAN
        • -HERON
        • -BITTERN EGRET IBIS SPOONBILL
    • Group3 HAWKS + >
      • HAWK like >
        • ACCIPITRIFORMES: -CONDOR EAGLE OSPREY VULTURE
        • -HARRIER HAWK ​KITE
      • OWL >
        • STRIGIFORMES: -OWL
      • Kingfisher >
        • Coraciiformes: -KINGFISHER
      • Woodpecker LIKE >
        • Piciformes: -WOODPECKER
        • -FLICKER SAPSUCKER
      • Falcon and kin >
        • Falconiformes: -CARACARA FALCON GYRFALCON KESTREL MERLIN
      • Parrot and kin >
        • Psittaciformes: -BUDGERIGAR COCKATIEL PARAKEET PARROT
    • Group4 SONGBIRDS + >
      • Passeriformes: -FLYCATCHER + ===> >
        • -FLYCATCHER PEWEE
        • -KINGBIRD PHOEBE
        • -SHRIKE
        • -VIREO
        • -JAY MAGPIE MEADOWLARK NUTCRACKER
        • -CROW GRACKLE RAVEN
        • -LARK
        • -MARTIN SWALLOW
        • -CHICKADEE TITMOUSE
        • -BUSHTIT VERDIN
        • -CREEPER NUTHATCH
        • -WREN ​WRENTIT
        • -GNATCATCHER
        • -BULBUL KINGLET
      • THRUSH FINCH SPARROW + ===> >
        • -BULEBIRD​ DIPPER ​ROBIN SOLITAIRE THRUSH
        • -CATBIRD MOCKINGBIRD​ THRASHER
        • -PHAINOPEPLA PIPIT STARLING WAGTAIL WAXWING
        • -CROSSBILL ​FINCH GOLDFINCH SISKIN
        • -BISHOP MUNIA WAXBILL WHYDAH
        • -LONGSPUR
        • -SPARROW
        • -JUNCO TOWHEE
        • -BUNTING CARDINAL DICKCISSEL ​GROSBEAK PYRRHULOXIA
      • BLACKBIRD WARBLER + ===> >
        • -BLACKBIRDS
        • -GRACKLE
        • -BOBOLINK COWBIRD
        • -MAGPIE MEADOWLARK NUTCRACKER ORIOLE​
        • -CHAT​ OVENBIRD REDSTART WARBLER YELLOWTHROAT
        • -PARULA WARBLER 2 WATERTHRUSH
        • -WARBLER 3 WATERTHRUSH
        • -TANAGER
    • DOMESTICS >
      • -CHICKEN EMU OSTRICH
  • SimplEfect
    • SOCAL CHECKLIST New order
    • ALPHABETIC FAMILY NAMES
    • SCIENTIFIC ORDER>FAMILY INDEX
    • 4-LETTER CODE
  • BIRDS OF
    • HICs PARADE >
      • Los Angeles County
      • San Diego County
      • ORANGE COUNTY
      • Riverside County
      • Santa Barbara County
      • Ventura County
      • San Bernardino County
      • San Luis Obispo County
      • Kern County
      • Imperial County
  • BIRDERS
    • MORE PoP
    • GULL IDENTIFICATION
  • ABOUT US
    • THE TEAM
    • OUR AREA
    • COMMON ABBREVIATIONS
    • CONTACT US
    • SAY WHAT
  • HOME
    • Birds of Southern California
    • HOME TOO
  • SHOWS
    • 2022 Bird of the Year
    • Bird Video Clips
    • BIRDS OF THE WEEK
    • Yardbirds-Murrieta
    • Safari Park
    • Birds of the Past >
      • 2021 Bird of the Year
      • 2020 Bird of the Year
      • 2019 Bird of the Year
      • 2018 Bird of the Year
      • 2017 Bird of the Year
      • Older BOTW 04-2018 to 09-2019
      • Older BOTW 09-2017 to 04-2018
      • Older BOTW 06-2016 to 08-2017
      • Birds ofthe Day 2021
      • Birds ofthe Day 2020
      • Birds ofthe Day 2019
      • BIRDS ofthe DAY 2018
      • BIRDS OFTHE DAY 2017
      • BIRDS OFTHE DAY 2016
    • Local-birds of area >
      • IRVINE
      • Santa Rosa Plateau 3-9-2019
      • RIVERSIDE
      • SAN DIEGO
      • San Diego 3-27-2019
      • OCEANSIDE
      • DANA POINT
      • LAKE ELSINORE
      • LAKE ELSINORE 2019
      • LAKE ELSINORE 11-23-2019
      • PERRIS
      • WINCHESTER/LAKE SKINNER
      • Whelan Lake
      • Wild Bird Center, Indio
      • TEMECULA
    • RED WHITE AND BLUE
    • Murrieta Mountain Blue
    • I AM THE BIRD
    • Thanks Firefighters
    • BABIES PLUS
    • FAVORITES I
    • FAVORITES II
    • DUCK HYBRIDS
  • BIRDS
    • TREE TOPPERS >
      • ANI CUCKOO DOVE PIGEON
      • WOODPECKER
      • FLICKER SAPSUCKER
      • KINGFISHER SHRIKE TANAGER
      • BUNTING CARDINAL DICKCISSEL GROSBEAK PYRRHULOXIA
      • BUDGERIGAR COCKATIEL PARAKEET PARROT
    • BUSH LEAGUERS >
      • CHAT OVENBIRD REDSTART WARBLER YELLOWTHROAT
      • PARULA WARBLER 2
      • WARBLER 3 WHITE-EYE WATERTHRUSH
      • SPARROW
      • JUNCO TOWHEE
      • WREN WRENTIT
      • BUSHTIT CHICKADEE TITMOUSE VERDIN
      • CATBIRD LARK MOCKINGBIRD THRASHER
      • PHAINOPEPLA PIPIT STARLING WAGTAIL WAXWING
      • CREEPER LONGSPUR NUTHATCH
      • CROSSBILL FINCH GOLDFINCH SISKIN
      • BISHOP MUNIA WAXBILL WHYDAH
    • BLACK BIRDS AND ALLIES >
      • CROW GRACKLE RAVEN
      • BLACKBIRD
      • BOBOLINK COWBIRD
      • JAY MAGPIE MEADOWLARK NUTCRACKER ORIOLE
    • SEAFARERS >
      • GULL​ KITTIWAKE
      • BOOBY CORMORANT FRIGATEBIRD​ PELICAN
      • SKIMMER TERN
      • ALBATROSS FULMAR JAEGER SHEARWATER SKUA
      • AUKLET GUILLEMOTE MURRE MURRELET PUFFIN STORM-PETREL TROPICBIRD
    • AQUATIC CRUISERS >
      • GREBE LOON
      • BUFFLEHEAD DUCK MALLARD SCOTER
      • CANVASBACK GADWALL GARGANEY GOLDENEYE MERGANSER SCAUP
      • EIDER PINTAIL REDHEAD SHOVELER TEAL WIGEON
      • BRANT GOOSE SWAN
    • SHORE PATROL >
      • DOWITCHER DUNLIN KNOT RUFF SURFBIRD TURNSTONE
      • CURLEW GODWIT TATTLER WHIMBREL YELLOWLEGS
      • KILLDEER PLOVER SANDERLING WILLET
      • PHALAROPE SANDPIPER SNIPE STINT
    • WETLAND WADERS >
      • BITTERN EGRET IBIS SPOONBILL
      • CRANE HERON STORK
      • COOT GALLINULE RAIL SORA
      • AVOCET OYSTERCATCHER STILT
    • BIRDS OF PREY >
      • CONDOR EAGLE OSPREY VULTURE
      • HARRIER HAWK KITE
      • CARACARA FALCON GYRFALCON KESTREL MERLIN
      • OWL
    • AVIAN AERIALISTS >
      • MARTIN SWALLOW
      • HUMMINGBIRD SWIFT
      • BLUEBIRD DIPPER ROBIN SOLITAIRE THRUSH
    • GROUND HUGGERS >
      • PEAFOWL PEACOCK
      • CHUKAR GUINEAFOWL PHEASANT QUAIL TURKEY
      • CHICKEN EMU OSTRICH ROADRUNNER
    • PEST CONTROL >
      • FLYCATCHER PEWEE
      • KINGBIRD PHOEBE
      • BULBUL KINGLET
      • GNATCATCHER ​VIREO
      • NIGHTHAWK POORWILL
  • IN ORDER
    • Group1 Ducks Doves + + >
      • ANSERIFORMES: -BRANT GOOSE SWAN
      • DUCKS ===> >
        • -BUFFLEHEAD DUCK​​ MALLARD SCOTER
        • -CANVASBACK GADWALL GARGANEY GOLDENEYE MERGANSER SCAUP
        • -EIDER PINTAIL REDHEAD SHOVELER TEAL WIGEON
      • GALLIFORMES: -CHUKAR ​GUINEAFOWL PHEASANT QUAIL TURKEY
      • -PEAFOWL PEACOCK
      • PODICIPEDIFORMES: -GREBE
      • DOVE AND KIN >
        • Columbiformes: ​-DOVE PIGEON
      • CUCKOO >
        • Cuculiformes: -ANI CUCKOO
        • -ROADRUNNER
      • Nighthawks >
        • Caprimulgiformes: -NIGHTHAWK POORWILL
      • Hummingbird and kin >
        • Apodiformes: -HUMMINGBIRD SWIFT
      • RAIL and kin >
        • GRUIFORMES: -COOT GALLINULE RAIL SORA
        • -CRANE
    • GROUP2 Sea&Shore birds >
      • Charadriiformes: -SHOREBIRDS ===> >
        • -AVOCETS OYSTERCATCHER STILT
        • -DOWITCHER DUNLIN KNOT RUFF SURFBIRD TURNSTONE
        • -CURLEW GODWIT TATTLER WHIMBREL YELLOWLEGS
        • -KILLDEER PLOVER SANDERLING WILLET​
        • -PHALAROPE SANDPIPER SNIPE STINT
      • JAEGER SKUA ===> >
        • -JAEGER SKUA
      • ALCIDA ===> >
        • -AUKLET GUILLEMOTE MURRE MURRELET PUFFIN STORM-PETREL TROPICBIRD
      • GULL TERNS SKIMMERS ===> >
        • -GULL KITTIWAKE
        • -TERN SKIMMER
      • LOON >
        • GAVIIFORMES: -LOONS
      • STORK >
        • Ciconiiformes: -STORK
      • BOOBY and kin >
        • SULIFORMES: -BOOBY FRIGATEBIRD
      • PELICAN OR HERON LIKE >
        • PELECANIFORMES: -CORMORANT PELICAN
        • -HERON
        • -BITTERN EGRET IBIS SPOONBILL
    • Group3 HAWKS + >
      • HAWK like >
        • ACCIPITRIFORMES: -CONDOR EAGLE OSPREY VULTURE
        • -HARRIER HAWK ​KITE
      • OWL >
        • STRIGIFORMES: -OWL
      • Kingfisher >
        • Coraciiformes: -KINGFISHER
      • Woodpecker LIKE >
        • Piciformes: -WOODPECKER
        • -FLICKER SAPSUCKER
      • Falcon and kin >
        • Falconiformes: -CARACARA FALCON GYRFALCON KESTREL MERLIN
      • Parrot and kin >
        • Psittaciformes: -BUDGERIGAR COCKATIEL PARAKEET PARROT
    • Group4 SONGBIRDS + >
      • Passeriformes: -FLYCATCHER + ===> >
        • -FLYCATCHER PEWEE
        • -KINGBIRD PHOEBE
        • -SHRIKE
        • -VIREO
        • -JAY MAGPIE MEADOWLARK NUTCRACKER
        • -CROW GRACKLE RAVEN
        • -LARK
        • -MARTIN SWALLOW
        • -CHICKADEE TITMOUSE
        • -BUSHTIT VERDIN
        • -CREEPER NUTHATCH
        • -WREN ​WRENTIT
        • -GNATCATCHER
        • -BULBUL KINGLET
      • THRUSH FINCH SPARROW + ===> >
        • -BULEBIRD​ DIPPER ​ROBIN SOLITAIRE THRUSH
        • -CATBIRD MOCKINGBIRD​ THRASHER
        • -PHAINOPEPLA PIPIT STARLING WAGTAIL WAXWING
        • -CROSSBILL ​FINCH GOLDFINCH SISKIN
        • -BISHOP MUNIA WAXBILL WHYDAH
        • -LONGSPUR
        • -SPARROW
        • -JUNCO TOWHEE
        • -BUNTING CARDINAL DICKCISSEL ​GROSBEAK PYRRHULOXIA
      • BLACKBIRD WARBLER + ===> >
        • -BLACKBIRDS
        • -GRACKLE
        • -BOBOLINK COWBIRD
        • -MAGPIE MEADOWLARK NUTCRACKER ORIOLE​
        • -CHAT​ OVENBIRD REDSTART WARBLER YELLOWTHROAT
        • -PARULA WARBLER 2 WATERTHRUSH
        • -WARBLER 3 WATERTHRUSH
        • -TANAGER
    • DOMESTICS >
      • -CHICKEN EMU OSTRICH
  • SimplEfect
    • SOCAL CHECKLIST New order
    • ALPHABETIC FAMILY NAMES
    • SCIENTIFIC ORDER>FAMILY INDEX
    • 4-LETTER CODE
  • BIRDS OF
    • HICs PARADE >
      • Los Angeles County
      • San Diego County
      • ORANGE COUNTY
      • Riverside County
      • Santa Barbara County
      • Ventura County
      • San Bernardino County
      • San Luis Obispo County
      • Kern County
      • Imperial County
  • BIRDERS
    • MORE PoP
    • GULL IDENTIFICATION
  • ABOUT US
    • THE TEAM
    • OUR AREA
    • COMMON ABBREVIATIONS
    • CONTACT US
    • SAY WHAT

BIRDS OF SOUTHERN cALIFORNIA
​GULL IDENTIFICATION GUIDE

Gull Guide  ---We have hit a snag .  It's seems that we can not provide the detail of each gull and its plumage cycle to clearly ID some of the Gulls.
so we either leave this as unfinished work(just overview level), remove it altogether, or try it finish this over time.
To finish this we need the detail provided in Shelby's guide or more. So even more research is needed..
Again== we are running into difficulties trying to put this together. So we are on hold  with this development. Example of why:
 See "Test Your Gull Ability" below-- For Mew Gulls they show---"dark eyes" but we have found a few Mew Gull pictures have definite "pale eyes".  We checked a few other sources and it seems they are most often dark yellow brown, but some can  have pale eyes.
​
 Online Gull Guides: South Dakota Birds   Steve Hampton's Gull Guide  very detailed 
more gull: Anything Larus
​​
Size will help id Gull's: Largest to smallest: Glaucous 30in/75cm,  Yellow-footed 27in/69cm, Glaucous-winged 27in/68cm, Herring 26in 67cm, 
Western 26in/67cm​, Iceland 25in/63cm, California 22in/55cm, Lesser Black-backed 22in/55cm, Heermann's 20in/50cm, Ring-billed 19in/47cm,
Mew 17in, 45cm, Kittiwake 17in/42cm, Laughing 17in/43cm, Franklin's 15in/37cm,​ Sabine's 14in/35cm, Bonaparte's 14in/35cm, Little 11in/28cm
Picture
Gull Topography - about remiges & scapular coverts.. but site may have link problems
Glaucous-winged Gull 1st yr Carolina Birds Jean
Herring Gull 1st yr Lake Elsinore
Western Gull 1yr Carolina Birds Basar
Iceland Gull 1yr Wiki Commons Mpf
California Gull 1st yr Carolina Birds Laura Gooch
Heermann's Gull 1st yr Carolina Birds Dick Daniels
Ring-Billed Gull 1st yr Carolina Birds Mdf
Mew Gull 1st yr Wiki Commons Jitze Couperus
Glaucous-winged Gull 2nd yr Carolina Birds tgreyfox
Herring Gull 2nd yr Carolina Birds Dick Daniels
California Gull 2nd yr Lake Elsinore 12-03-2018
Heermann's Gull 2nd yr Wiki Commons
Ring-Billed Gull 2nd yr Lake Elsinore
Mew Gull 2nd yr Wiki Commons docentjoyce
Adult Gulls below in order by size
Glaucous Gull 30in Wiki Commons AWeith
Yellow-footed Gull 27in 07-29-2018 Salton Sea Julie Szabo
Glaucous-winged Gull 27in
Glaucous-winged Gull 27in Carolina Birds Dick Daniels
Herring Gull 26in Lake Elsinore
Iceland Gull 25in Wiki Commons gailhampshire
Western Gull 25in 12-18-2018 San Diego
Lesser Black-backed Gull 23in 12-18-2018 San Diego
California Gull 22in Lake Elsinore 10-27-2018
Heermann's Gull 20in Oceanside 01-06-2016
Ring-billed Gull 19in Lake Elsinore 12-03-2018
Mew Gull 17in Carolina Birds Dick Daniels
Black-legged Kittiwake 17in Carolina Birds Dick Daniels
Laughing Gull 16in Carolina Birds Dick Daniels
Franklin's Gull 15in 04-15-2017 Salton Sea Julie Szabo
Sabine's Gull 14in Lake Elsinore 10-04-2018 Elm Grove Beach
Bonaparte's Gull 13in 03-19- 2018 Lake Elsinore
Little Gull 11in Carolina Birds Dick Daniels
Picture

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