Summer is not always thought of as prime time to look for unusual gulls. This is partly because so many other interesting birds—such as terns and shorebirds—are around at that season vying for our attention. It’s also because so many of the gulls we see at this season are those ratty-looking immatures that we’d rather not have to look at! However, it is a little-known fact that there are more Lesser Black-backed Gulls along the Jersey Shore in summer (particularly early summer) than in winter (not to mention the fact that several other species of rare gulls, such as Franklin’s and California, tend to show up along the East Coast at this time of year as well). Many of the Lesser Black-backeds occurring at this season are first-year (one-year-old) birds. Though birds in this plumage are easy to overlook, an awareness of the key field marks should make identifying one relatively straightforward.
But I know what you’re thinking… Why bother? Maybe you have already seen a Lesser Black-backed Gull and don’t feel the need to find another “not-so-pretty” one. Just consider the process of searching for one an exercise in birding skills. With a little practice, picking out a first year Lesser will become routine, and it will prepare you for noticing a real rarity. With that in mind, read on. The photo captions below will highlight some of the key features to look for on a first-year Lesser Black-backed Gull.
|
Figure 1 – Third-year Lesser Black-backed Gull, May, New Jersey. Adult and older immature Lesser Black-backs are usually easy to recognize by their slate-gray mantles and bright yellow legs. Also notice how slim and long-winged this bird looks. The bill is also slim and lacks the swollen gonys (the bump on the lower edge of the bill) of Great Black-backed Gull. In direct comparison, size is also very useful: Lessers are equal to or a bit smaller than Herring Gulls, and much smaller than Great Black-backeds. Photo by Michael O’Brien. |
 |
|
Figure 2 – First-year Lesser Black-backed Gull, June, New Jersey. Like the bird in the previous photo, note how slim and long-winged this bird looks. The mostly whitish head and mostly blackish bill would be an unusual (but not unheard of) combination for an immature Herring Gull, so they provide a good search image when scanning through a large flock of gulls. The coarse, dark nape and flank markings are subtly but distinctively different from Herring’s smudgier, paler brown markings there. Even in summer, the wings and back tend to look dark, without the excessive fading that both Herring and Great Black-backed are prone to show. |
 |
|
Figure 3 – First-year Lesser Black-backed Gull (bottom left) with first-year and adult Great Black-backed Gulls and adult Herring Gull (back center), May, New Jersey. When seen together, the size difference between Great Black-backed and Lesser Black-backed is often striking (though odd viewing angles can sometimes mask these differences). The first-year Lesser’s black bill and whitish head combined with dark back and wings often give it the look of a miniature first-year Great Black-backed. But Lesser’s upperparts have a more uniform look, lacking Great Black-backed’s checkered appearance. Also notice the Lesser’s slimmer bill, flatter crown, and more prominent dark smudging around the eye. Lesser’s wingtips project farther beyond the tail than on a Great Black-backed, though birds in the final stages of primary molt (usually around September on young birds) may look just as short-winged as Great Black-backed. |
 |
|
Figure 4 – First-year Herring Gull, June, New Jersey. Though many first-year Herring Gulls become nearly white-headed by summer, the bill usually becomes extensively pink-based by that time (Lessers may show a small amount of pink but rarely extensive). Notice that this bird’s overall color is a rather uniform brown—a paler and more buffy-brown hue than the color of a Lesser Black-backed. Markings on the nape, breast, and flanks are smudgy and pale brown, not dark and contrasty as on a first-year Lesser Black-backed. On many first-year Herrings, the wings become excessively worn and bleached, as on this bird. Lesser Black-backeds never seem to show such excessive fading. |
 |
|
Figure 5 – First-year Lesser Black-backed Gull, June, New Jersey. Notice the black bill, whitish head with dark smudge around the eye, broad dark tail-band, and white rump and tail-base. The tail-band is broader than on a Great Black-backed, the wings are darker, and the mantle looks more uniform without Great Black-backed’s checkered appearance. First-year Herring Gulls (at least of our American subspecies) would never show such extensive white on the tail and would also show prominently pale inner primaries. |
 |
|
Figure 6 – First-year Lesser Black-backed Gull, May, New Jersey. From below, first year Lesser Black-backed Gulls show very dark underwings contrasting with a paler body. Even though this bird is extensively marked below, the ground color of the underparts is white. First-year Great Black-backed shows a similar pattern though usually not quite so dark on the underwing and usually much whiter on the body. Note also this bird’s white tail with broad dark band, mostly black bill, and whitish head with dark smudge around the eye. |
 |
|
Figure 7 – First-year Great Black-backed Gull, June, New Jersey. Compared to Lesser, note this bird’s much bulkier proportions, with larger head and bill, rounder crown, heavier chest, and broader wings. Note this bird’s strongly checkered upperparts—this area would look more uniform on a Lesser Black-backed. Although there is some overlap, Great Black-backed’s tail band tends to be narrower and more broken up by pale markings. |
 |
|
Figure 8 – First-year Herring Gull, June, New Jersey. First-year Herring looks much more uniformly brown than Lesser Black-backed, with no white at the tail base and much less contrast between body and underwing. The ground color of the underparts is decidedly brown, not white. Also note the prominent pale inner primaries, which create translucent “windows” from below. If you see a gull that looks all brown, it is probably a Herring. |
 |