Lesser Black-backed Gull (Larus fuscus), Glendale Recharge Ponds, Maricopa County

This Lesser Black-backed Gull was photographed by Pierre Deviche on 31 October 2020.

Rare at any time in AZ, but previously recorded at same location.There are eleven accepted records for the state with about five others pending. This species is increasing with the first state record occurring in 2006, and nearly annual records in the past five years.

Mid-size juvenile/1st cycle gull seen in flight only. ID points: Dark, gray cold overall - no hint of brown color in any part of plumage. All dark, rather large bill (bill of CA Gull has at least some pale color at most ages). Primaries are all dark (no pale window) and so are secondaries and tertials. Greater coverts are for the most part unmarked. Chris Benesh summarized the situation very well in his comment on FB: "Overall, it looks cooler, gray toned, less warm tending brown toned. What we can see of the upperwing is really quite plain. Minimal pale tipping to the secondaries is also suggestive of LBBG. The bill looks like it has some heft to it as well, though difficult to judge from these images. We are also one day away from November, and it is hard to imagine that there would be too many dark billed California Gull juveniles flying around, and I would expect them to show more pale tipping to the secondaries".

31 October 2020, photo by Pierre Deviche