GULLS 
225 
breakers off stormy points for the food that is brought to the surface. 
Occasionally they follow the immense schools of small fish that periodically 
visit our shores, and take toll of the inexhaustible supply. 
Economic Status. It will be seen from the above summary of the 
Herring Gulls’ food habits that as scavengers they are important and 
should be protected. 
53. California Gull, le goeland de californie. harm calif ornicus. L, 20-23. 
Like a small Herring Gull, but with light yellow, greenish yellow, or pale glaucous-green 
legs and feet, and a dark as well as a red spot near the 
end of the lower mandible (Figure 326). 
Distinctions. Central and Western. In size be- 
tween the Herring and the Ring-billed Gulls, but 
with sex and individual variation specimens may 
overlap either of these species in this character. 
Distinguished from the Herring Gull in having 
a dark spot in the red of the lower mandible, red 
eyelids and gape, and having yellowish or greenish 
yellow instead of flesh-coloured legs. 
The Ring-billed is without red on the bill tips 
and has a large dark spot on both mandibles, making 
a more or less complete ring about the bill (See Figure 
328), and its feet are generally more strongly yellow. 
The Short-billed Gull is the only other species with which the California Gull is likely 
to be confused. It is considerably smaller and has a plain greenish yellow bill without 
either red or dark marks. The legs are greenish in colour, never yellow. Both Ring-billed 
and Short-billed may have red eyelids and gape like the California. 
These birds are easily separated in maturity by the above characteristics. In juven- 
ility the difficulties are greater. The following schedule may assist: 
Medium-sized gull, L, 20-23. 
Quite dark; tail evenly dark; bill dark, with flesh-coloured 
base; feet brownish or flesh-coloured First autumn 
Light, speckled, or clouded; tail clouded towards end (Figure 
327); bill yellowish with more or less dark ring; feet flesh 
or light greenish Immature 
Light; tail white; bill yellowish with red and black spot; feet 
light greenish or yellowish, eyelids and gape red Adult 
Bill of California Gull; 
scale, L 
Figure 327 
Details of California Gull: 
Wing of adult, tail of sub-adult just before reaching maturity; scale, J. 
The juveniles are never as dark as first year Herring Gulls, but are darker than Ring- 
billed or Short-billed of similar ages. They never have a decided or clear-cut subterminal 
(Compare Figures 327 and 329) tail band as do the Ring-billed or the Short- billed, though 
the dark of immaturity lingers irregularly on the tail tip after the remainder has become 
pure white. Probably, in certain plumages, size of carefully sexed birds is the only means 
of separating them. 
