Thayer's Gull

Larus thayeri

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Identification

Field notes

58-63 cm (23-25") Common in Arctic and along west coast in winter, rare winter visitor inland to Great Lakes and east coast. Large, crow-sized gull. White head, underparts and tail; pale gray mantle; black wing tips with white spots; brown eyes; yellow bill with red spot; dark pink legs.

Winter adults similar but head streaked in brown. Similar Herring Gull is larger, has yellow eyes, lighter pink legs and a larger bill.

Song: mewing and squealing.

Details in the field

Photo gallery

1 photo

Credit: Nathan Hamm

Watch and learn

Videos

2 videos

Thayer's Gull, old Tahlequah Dock, Vashon Island, WA 17-18 May 2012

Credit: Gary Shugart

Thayer's Gull 1 12 5 12

Credit: Eclipscyn

Bird Advisor Identification rules 1 variant 2 rules

These are the observation paths the Bird Advisor can use to identify this species. Each rule is an alternative match.

Thayer's Gull

2 rules

Rule 1 11 criteria confidence 4

What colour were the LEGS or FEET ?: Orange, buff (orange-yellow), or tan · Red, or pink · Rufous (dull-red or rust-colored) · Unknown
What SHAPE was the TAIL ?: Square or slightly notched at the end · Rounded at the end · Unknown
What colour was the BACK ?: White, or pale (grayish-white) · Gray, or blue-gray · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What colour was the BREAST ?: White, or pale (grayish-white) · Unknown
What colour was the BILL ?: Yellow · Unknown
What SHAPE was the BILL ?: Straight and thick · Hooked · Unknown
What LENGTH was the BILL ?: Short · Medium · Unknown
What colour was the TOP of HEAD ?: White, or pale (grayish-white) · Unknown
How BIG was the bird ?: Crow-sized · Goose-sized
What TYPE of bird was seen ?: Gull-like, or a Seabird
WHERE was the bird seen ?: Southwestern United States · Northwestern Canada or United States

result:536-thayer-s-gull:1:1 Source: 536 Thayer's Gull, row 1

Rule 2 11 criteria confidence 1

What colour were the LEGS or FEET ?: Orange, buff (orange-yellow), or tan · Red, or pink · Rufous (dull-red or rust-colored) · Unknown
What SHAPE was the TAIL ?: Square or slightly notched at the end · Rounded at the end · Unknown
What colour was the BACK ?: White, or pale (grayish-white) · Gray, or blue-gray · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What colour was the BREAST ?: White, or pale (grayish-white) · Unknown
What colour was the BILL ?: Yellow · Unknown
What SHAPE was the BILL ?: Straight and thick · Hooked · Unknown
What LENGTH was the BILL ?: Short · Medium · Unknown
What colour was the TOP of HEAD ?: White, or pale (grayish-white) · Unknown
How BIG was the bird ?: Crow-sized · Goose-sized
What TYPE of bird was seen ?: Gull-like, or a Seabird
WHERE was the bird seen ?: Northeastern Canada or United States · Southeastern United States

result:536-thayer-s-gull:2:1 Source: 536 Thayer's Gull, row 2