Mike,
The weight of adult silver gulls is pretty much exactly half that of
black tailed gull (~250g compared to 500g+). Length is pretty
meaningless when comparing the size of two birds in different families
when one is slim and small, the other very large and bulky.
As for the description of the bird, you may join me in ceremoniously
burning all the popular Australian fieldguides. Allow me to quote from
text on juvenile Silver Gull from HANZAB, which is the only guide to
be trusted, though slightly bulky to carry in the field!
"Differ from adult by: varying faint brown smudge in front of eye and
brown wash over crown, nape and ear-coverts...and pale grey wash on
lower hindneck...Bill, dull black, with brown at base; some have
varying pink tinge...Legs and feet, pink-grey to pink-brown".
Regards,
Simon Mustoe
______________________________________________________________
From: "Mike Grigg" <>
To: "'Simon Mustoe'" <>, "Geoffrey Dabb"
<>
CC: <>,
<>
Subject: Re: [canberrabirds] RE: [Birding-Aus] Gull
Date: Tue, 21 Nov 2006 10:16:41 +1100 (AUS Eastern Standard Time)
Simon,
While I wouldn't know a Black-tailed Gull if it fell on me, I'm rather
perplexed by your response to Geoffrey's photos. How can it be a
young Silver Gull if it has pale (yellowish) legs and a pale yellow
black tipped bill. My Field Guide ( Michael Morcombe) shows a juv
Silver-Gill as having dark (brown) legs and a dark (blackish) bill.
My Field Guide also gives the size of a Silver-Gull as 39-42 cm and a
Black-tailed Gull as 45-48 cm. The difference of some 6 cm is hardly
'almost twice the size' as you indicate in your e-mail.
Grateful your advice
Mike
'Own Your Life'
[] 0427 604 994
[]
-------Original Message-------
From: [2]Geoffrey Dabb
Date: 11/21/06 09:29:31
To: [3]'Simon Mustoe'
Cc: ;
Subject: [canberrabirds] RE: [Birding-Aus] Gull
Thanks, Simon. The problem of not seeing the whole bird, then. I
suppose Ill just have to keep looking! Geoffrey
______________________________________________________________________
From: Simon Mustoe
Sent: Tuesday, November 21, 2006 8:43 AM
To:
Subject: RE: [Birding-Aus] Ignore previous email
Geoffrey,
Sorry, you can ignore my previous request. I just found the images you
posted. Unfortunately, the bird is just a young silver gull.
Black-tailed gulls would be almost twice the size with bright yellow
and much heavier bills.
All the best,
Simon.
______________________________________________________________________
><< 26_f_cell.gif >> ><< 47_g_letter.gif >> ><< IMSTP.gif >> ><< 2.jpg
>>
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