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Unknown gull(?)

Photo by Elsa
Published on Project Noah
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Field Notes

Description:

I am really struggling to find out what species this, whether the colour is natural or this gull (?) has been subjected to an oil spill. Does anyone know? It looks like a gull, but the beak sits lower on the head / the forehead seems more bulbous then that of other gull species I know.

Species ID Suggestions

Comments (8)
Elsa
Afraid these are the only ones I have Jellis. Really appreciate your effort guys! If I were to guess anything it would be slender-billed as they are common where this one was found, but that bill really threw me. Not to mention the colour, was hoping it wouldn't be an oil spill victim..
Jellis
do you have any other angles? It could be a dirty Slender bill Chroicocephalus genei
Malcolm Wilton-Jones
My first thought was black-headed in winter plumage and covered in what looks like refined oil.
ForestDragon
Maybe a non-breeding plumage Black-headed Gull, Chroicocephalus ridibundus. http://www.birdguides.com/species/species.asp?sp=061039# Perhaps fluffed out because it isn't feeling well.
bayucca
That bill was also my problem...
NathanHeuer
It has a very thin bill, not like a typical gull.
ForestDragon
I agree with Liam. I think the bird ended up on the wrong end of some pollutant. :(
Liam
Can't comment on species at the moment, but it looks like a very oiled bird given the coloration and plumage mess.
Photographed
PublishedFebruary 13, 2013

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