[obol] Vega Gull?

[DAVID IRONS]

Greetings All,

Phil's assessment of this bird has some merit.  My initial response to his comments was, "huh?"  However, after zooming in on the wings of image number 1779, I have to agree that something is amiss with the pigmentation of this bird.  If you look closely at the trailing edge of the secondaries, the pattern of the individual feathers on the right wing is quite different from the pattern on the same feathers of the left wing.  The extensive large patches of what appears to be pure white that dominates tips of the secondaries is atypical for either American or Vega Herring Gulls.  

Dave Irons
Eugene, OR

> From: philliplc at charter.net
> To: obol at lists.oregonstate.edu
> Date: Sat, 1 Mar 2008 23:41:05 -0800
> Subject: Re: [obol] Vega Gull?
> 
> The remiges appear melanin deficient (slight leucism or genetic
> influence from a white-winged sp) so I'd guess it's more likely
> just an odd smithsonianus. 
> 
> Phil
> 
> 
> 
> > Here's something to argue about while I'm away.
> > 
> > Is this a Vega Gull from our pelagic trip today?
> > 
> > http://thebirdguide.com/temp_images/img_1780.jpg
> > http://thebirdguide.com/temp_images/img_1779.jpg
> 
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