Southern Subspecies of Western Gull (Larus occidentalis wymani)

Last update: March 3, 2001

Southern subspecies of Western Gull (Larus occidentalis wymani) (click image to enlarge)
Spud Point, Bodega Harbor, Sonoma County
February 11, 2001

I found the gull in the photographs above on the afternoon of Sunday, February 11, 2001 at Spud Point, Bodega Harbor, Sonoma County, California. My attention was initially drawn to the bird by its dark mantle. It was standing near a Western Gull and was somewhat smaller in overall size and clearly darker-mantled than the Western Gull. I approached the bird and took several photographs, the best of which are visible here. The bird was identified as a third-winter Larus occidentalis wymani by Chris Corben, Rich Stallcup, and Jon Winter. More photos follow.

Nearby Western Gull (Larus occidentalis occidentalis) photographed in similar light

Comparison with Mew Gull