Unidentified Gull, Choshi, Japan

[Terry Townshend]

Hello there.

I saw this unusually 'hooded' gull at Choshi in Japan in January. Unfortunately it was just a fly-past and I never saw it again. I originally thought it must be an unusually well-marked Vega Gull (Larus vegae) but thoughts of smithsonius also came into my head. In the field, the mantle did not appear to be particularly light compared with the surrounding Vega Gulls, but of course it was difficult to judge accurately during a single flypast. The eye is very pale, the bill quite long and the legs look relatively pale compared with most Vega.

I have no experience of smithsonius so I would be grateful if any experts on here can tell me whether this is one and, if so, why?

Thanks very much in advance.. and best wishes, Terry

[adriaens]

It is certainly not a smithsonianus; the remiges are too dark grey (both above and below), and contrast too strongly with the white trailing edge.

[JanJ]

It doesen´t really look wrong for vegae, with contrasting white tongue tips to p5-p7 (also on the underside of the primaries).

JanJ

[Terry Townshend]

Thank you both for your replies. It'll go down in my records as a very smart vegae. It really was a striking bird.

Thanks again, Terry