Lesser Black-backed Gull
Compost Piles near Ithaca, NY - 31 January 2007
Note the pinkish legs and black markings on the bill of this gull. This individual was first
suspected to be a LBBG-Herring hybrid, however it is probably just a 3rd or 4th winter
Lesser Black-backed still showing pinkish legs and a little bit of black in the bill. Note you
can barely see some brownish feathers in the second picture, which further supports this idea.
Click the photos for a closer look.
![](lbbg_x_herg_maybe_1-31-07.jpg)
![](lbbg_x_herg_maybe1_1-31-07.jpg)
Compost Piles near Ithaca, NY - 9 December 2006
This 3rd winter bird was first noticed sleeping east of the compost piles, then flew to the
compost piles to feed. An adult Lesser Black-backed and a 1st winter Iceland Gull (#2)
were also present. This odd Herring Gull(?) was also in the group.
(Click images to zoom in.)
![](lbbg3w_1.jpg)
With 3rd winter Herring Gull.
![](lbbg_3w_herg_3w.jpg)
With 1st winter Herring Gull.
![](lbbg_3w_herg.jpg)
![](lbbg3w_2.jpg)
Spread wings showing undersides of primaries. Note Iceland Gull in back.
Click here for a blurry flight shot of the Lesser Black-backed.
![](lbbg_wing_icgu.jpg)
Did you notice the Iceland Gull in the photos below and above?
![](lbbg_icgu.jpg)
![](lbbg_icgu1.jpg)
![](lbbg_icgu2.jpg)
![](lbbg_icgu4.jpg)
![](lbbg_icgu5.jpg)
Here's a nice ID challenge! Can you ID all the gulls in this horribly blurry photo?
![](lbbg_ad_herg_gbbg.jpg)
This is an adult bird seen at Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge at the top of Cayuga Lake, NY in the fall of 2005. (The other bird is an adult
Ring-billed Gull.)
Click photo to enlarge.
![](mnwr_lbbg.jpg)
For more photos of this 1st winter Lesser Black-backed Gull as well as
another adult, both seen in Ithaca, NY, Jan 06,
click here.
![](LBBG.jpg)
Here are photos from the reservoir in Pueblo, CO in late December / early January.
I don't know if these are the same bird or not, as multpile adult birds were present during this time.
![](lbbg_hegu_other.jpg)
So this bird was on the ice with the Glaucous Gull I photographed on 12/23/05. I'm sure you can pick out the Lesser Black-backed
(ignore the legs, they were more yellowish than the photo shows), Ring-billed and Herring Gulls, but what's that darker bird to the
back and right!? You'd be correct if you guessed California Gull.
![](lbbg_rbgu.jpg)
A horrible photo, but still good enough for you get IDs for two species of gull.
All Photos (C) 2006 Paul Hurtado
(Just let me know if you use them!)