Yellow-footed Gull (Larus livens), Lake Havasu; Windsor Beach, Mohave County

This Yellow-footed Gull was discoverd by Keith Kamper on 10 September 2021 and photographed by Janine McCabe and Chris McCreedy on 11 September 2021.

Only a single previous accepted record for Arizona, an adult near Page in April 1999.

An endemic breeder of the Gulf of California in Mexico, the Yellow-footed Gull occurs regularly in the US only at the Salton Sea as a post-breeding visitor, primarily from June-October.

The most similar immature gulls likely to occur in Arizona are Western and Lesser Black-backed. This bird has a whitish belly and pale rump, unlike a Western; note also the very heavy bulbous bill, eliminating Lesser Black-backed.

11 September 2021, photo by Chris McCreedy

11 September 2021, photo by Janine McCabe