143 



RING-BILLED GULL (Larus delawarensis ; choices 31, 37 and 37' , pp. 56-57) 

 a small to medium- si zed gull, is found commonly in winter from Oregon 

 to Baja California and rarely north to southern British Columbia. 

 Specimens north of the latter area should be saved. The very pale gray 

 mantle and ringed bill should identify all adult specimens. Immatures 

 could be confused with immature Mew or California Gulls but characteristics 

 in the key should clinch identification. 



MEW GULL (Larus oanus; choices 30, 38 and 38', pp. 56-57) is a 

 small gull easily identified in adult plumage by the short, unmarked 

 yellow bill. Immatures can be confused with immature Ring-billed Gulls 

 but the small bill and the characteristics in the key should identify 

 most specimens. The Mew Gull is a common winter visitor from Alaska to 

 southern California and a common breeder throughout much of Alaska. 



BLACK-HEADED GULL (Larus ridibundus; choices 17 and 17', pg. 54) is 

 accidental in western North America and any specimens should be saved. 

 The extensive amount of white in the wings, and the small size of the 

 bill and wing should separate this species from all other gulls. 



LAUGHING GULL (Larus atricilla; choices 16-16', pg. 53 ) is the largest 

 of the black-headed gulls. It breeds rarely in the Gulf of California and 

 is accidental north to Oregon. Specimens outside the Gulf of California 

 are worth saving. 



FRANKLIN'S GULL (Lams pipixcan; choices IT and 22, pp. 52 and 54) 

 is another small, black-headed gull occurring in this region. This species 

 is rare along the coast from Washington south. Specimens could occur in 

 nearly any month although northern regions would tend to accumulate winter 

 records and southern regions summer records. The characteristics in the 

 key should serve to identify this gull. 



BONAPARTE'S GULL (LCLVUS Philadelphia; choices 13' and 14', pp. 52-53), 

 a small gull that nests in the western and central regions of Alaska and 

 winters along the coast from central Washington through Baja California. 

 The extensive white in the primaries is a character shared only by Black- 

 headed and Little Gulls, both of which can be separated from the Bonaparte's 

 by size characters alone. 



LITTLE GULL (Larus minutus; choices 20 and 20', pg. 54 ) is a small 

 gull, accidental along the Pacific coast of North America. Only a few 

 records exist so any beached specimen is worth saving. Its small size 

 will eliminate confusion with any other gulls, but its size might 

 initially lead one to think it is a tern. 



