144 



HEERMANN'S GULL (Larus heermanni; choices 59-60', pg. 60) breeds on 

 Baja California islands, particularly those in the Gulf of California. In 

 the summer and fall they migrate north along the Pacific coast at least as 

 far as southern British Columbia. This species is normally absent north 

 of northern California in the winter and spring months. Specimens found 

 north of southern British Columbia should be saved. First year specimens 

 share plumage characteristics with the Flesh-footed Shearwater but lack 

 the overall shape and the "tube nostrils" of the shearwater. The orange 

 bill of the 2nd year bird and red bill of the adult distinguish this 

 species from other gulls. 



IVORY GULL (Pagophila ebumea; choices 2 and 23, pp.51 and 55 ) 

 occurs regularly in our area only along the north coast of Alaska in summer. 

 It is accidental elsewhere in Alaska. Any specimens of this gull away 

 from the Arctic coast of Alaska should be saved. Ivory Gulls should be 

 identified easily using the characters in the key. 



BLACK-LEGGED KITTIWAKE (Rissa tridactyla; choices!9 and 19', pg. 54) 

 is a small gull common along the Pacific coast from Alaska to Baja 

 California. It occurs rarely in the Gulf of California. Numbers south 

 of Alaska vary tremendously from year to year. The small hind toe and short 

 tarsus will separate a kittiwake from other gulls and the longer bill 

 (Plate 27-4) and paler gray mantle will separate this species from the 

 Red-legged Kittiwake. Ring-billed Gulls in their 2nd year plumage have 

 all black wing tips and are sometimes confused with Kittiwakes but their 

 longer tarsus should prevent confusion. 



RED-LEGGED KITTIWAKE (Rissa brevirostris; choices 18 and 18', pg. 54) 

 is common only near the Pribilof Islands, in the Bering Sea, and among 

 some of the Aleutian Islands, where they breed. They occur in the waters 

 near those islands in the winter. Specimens away from these areas should 

 definitely be salvaged. This species can be told from the Black-legged 

 Kittiwake by the darker gray of the mantle, the dark wing linings of the 

 adult, and by the shorter bill (Plate 27-3). 



ROSS' GULL (Rhodostethia rosea; choices 10 and 14, pp. 52-53) occurs 

 regularly along the north coast of Alaska in the fall and rarely at other 

 seasons. It is very rare in the Bering Sea. Any beached specimens of 

 this species anywhere are probably worth saving. The wedge-shaped tail 

 is unique among gulls. 



SABINE'S GULL (Xema sabini; choices 21 and 21', pg. 54) breeds along 

 the Arctic and Bering Sea coasts of Alaska and migrates to the Southern 

 Hemisphere so could be conceivably found on any beach in our region. Most 

 Sabine's Gulls migrate far out to sea so beached specimens are rare. The 

 bold triangular wing pattern is distinctive in all plumages. 



