Laughing Gull - Larus atricilla
Adults
Stunning bird.
Full hood offset by bold white eyelids, long dropping red bill with slightly darker tip, dark red legs, striking mid-dark grey upper-parts with bold white tertial tips, long black primaries with small white tips now worn off. Note the long wings projecting well beyond the tail tip.
All of these Laughing Gulls here were photographed at Rollover Pass car park, Bolivar Peninsula, Texas in April 2007.
Image taken in dull over cast conditions thus resulting in a more neutral light. The primaries are mostly blackish with very limited white tips, probably worn off rather than an indicator of immaturity.
The white eye lids do not meet however they are closer to the rear of the eye. There is a narrow red orbital red whilst the bill clearly demonstrates the droop tip and dark red colouration with darkish marks towards the tip.
The underwing is contrasting with the blacking outer primaries and paler grey inner primaries and secondaries along with broad white trailing edge. The underwing coverts are bright clean white
