Lesser Black-backed Gull in St. Louis County
2012-10-19

'Rare Regular' in Minnesota

First-cycle Lesser Black-backed Gull (Larus fuscus) flying towards the Minnesota side of the Superior Entry, 19 October 2012. Two different first-cycle birds have been seen at the Superior Entry and/or the first parking lot at the base of Wisconsin Point for the past several weeks. They have been seen together on several occasions and can be differentiated by tail pattern if well seen or photographed. An adult Lesser Black-backed was seen on the Minnesota side of the Entry 10 October and is probably still iin the area. In this image, note the blackish scapulars and blackish trailing edge to the wing with virtually no contrast between the inner and outer primaries (first-cycle Herring Gull shows an obvious pale panel in its inner primaries). Also note the strong contrast between its black tail band and whitish/lightly spotted rump and upper tail-coverts. Its all black bill is distinctive but not diagnostic.

Peder H. Svingen