General Description: Adult Western Gulls (Larus occidentalis) have a very dark mantle with black wingtips, and otherwise the plumage is bright white. The legs and feet are pinkish, and there is a red spot on the lower mandible. In winter plumage, adults get a gray wash and gray spots on the head. Juveniles are very dark and start out with a black bill.

Gulls take 2-4 years to mature. The plumage during the juvenile and subadult years differs from the adult breeding plumage, and the plumage also differs between summer and winter. Thus, there can be 7 or so different plumages for each species of gull, making identification difficult. Western Gulls take four years to mature.

Taxonomy: Charadriiformes, Laridae, Larinae.

Favored Habitat: Western Gulls are common along the Pacific Coast from Washington to Baja where they are found on sandy and rocky beaches, but they rarely come inland.

Where to Find: Western Gulls are uncommon in the Las Vegas. Watch for dark gulls while birding at Lake Mead, the Henderson Bird Viewing Preserve, and Sunset Park.

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