Iceland Gull in St. Louis County
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'Rare Regular' in Minnesota

Superficially resembling Iceland Gull, and showing pale tones at the base of its bill, this relatively pale, first-cycle Thayer's Gull may be an intergrade between these two species. Its relatively large bill and robust proportions, with wing tips extending only about one bill length beyond the tail tip, are typical of Thayer's. Also suggesting Thayer's are its "eye patch", the absence of checkering and whorls on the internal aspect of its tertial feathers, the presence of pale edging outlining the tip of each primary, and a solid tan "tail band" (not visible in photo, but seen while bird preening). Depending on light conditions and the bird's posture, its primaries and tertials appeared either the same shade as its upper wing-coverts, or very slightly darker. Unfortunately, the bird neither flew nor opened its wings during 90 minutes of observation on the afternoon of the 18th at the mouth of Miller Creek, Duluth (see Great Black-backed Gull, below, for directions).

Nikon Coolpix 4500 digiscoped image 18 November 2007 by Peder H. Svingen, ISO 100, f3.4, hand held at 1/60 second.