Red Dot; Pink Legs
For me, gulls are difficult to identify. First, second and third year gulls look similar among different species, and look different from adults of their own species. Fortunately all species of gulls are not found in the same geographical location, and that is one of the biggest clues to identification.
The most common gull seen at Santa Monica Pier in the month of March were gulls like the one in this picture, the Western Gull (Larus occidentalis). There are other gulls with a dark back, and others with pink legs, and others with a red spot on yellow bills...but there is no other gull that has all of those traits, and that are common in March on the beaches of Southern California.
Life Bird Photograph #207, Western Gull.
Red Dot; Pink Legs
For me, gulls are difficult to identify. First, second and third year gulls look similar among different species, and look different from adults of their own species. Fortunately all species of gulls are not found in the same geographical location, and that is one of the biggest clues to identification.
The most common gull seen at Santa Monica Pier in the month of March were gulls like the one in this picture, the Western Gull (Larus occidentalis). There are other gulls with a dark back, and others with pink legs, and others with a red spot on yellow bills...but there is no other gull that has all of those traits, and that are common in March on the beaches of Southern California.
Life Bird Photograph #207, Western Gull.