On several occasions, I have seen and photographed aberrant Laughing Gulls with strangely colored markings on their bills and legs. I’ve assumed they’re partially leucistic, though I could be wrong. I just call them ‘Pinto Bean’ Laughing Gulls for lack of a better term.

Pinto Bean aberrant Laughing Gull, Fort De Soto County Park, Pinellas County, FloridaPinto Bean aberrant Laughing Gull-  D200, handheld, laying in the sand, F5.6, 1/250, ISO 400, 80-400mm VR at 360 mm, fill flash used, red-eye strobe return.

The Laughing Gull image above was taken on October 5, 2008. The light was horrible, it was spritzing rain, and the sea breeze was kicking up choppy waves.

The local weatherman had predicted better weather, but I had my flash unit with me along with my BetterBeamer, so I gave it a shot with this unusual-looking gull.

I rarely use flash—probably less than .0001% of the time—but in this case, my photos would have looked really cruddy without it.

This gull didn’t seem to be accepted well by the other Laughing Gulls. It stayed off by itself but still close to the flock.

Pinto Bean patterned aberrant Laughing Gull, Fort De Soto County Park, Pinellas County, FloridaAnother partially leucistic, aberrant Laughing Gull? –  D200, handheld, laying in the sand, 1/400, ISO 125, 80-400mm VR at 310mm, natural late afternoon light

The photograph above was taken on December 18, 2008, in the same general area of Florida as the first image I posted of an aberrant Laughing Gull.

I do not believe this is the same bird—the patterns of color on the legs and bill are different.

Again, in my observation of this particular aberrant Laughing Gull, I noticed that the other Laughing Gulls seemed to keep their distance from it, though it also appeared that this gull wanted to be close to the flock resting on the spit of sand between the Gulf of Mexico and a tidal lagoon.

I have seen other Laughing Gulls in that location with this pinto bean coloration on their legs and bills, and these were my best images of them.

I know that in some species, they tend to ignore or chase off their leucistic kin, and I have wondered if that was also the case with these two “Pinto Bean” Laughing Gulls.

Both gulls are in non-breeding plumage, and I do not know what they might look like during mating season.
Life is good.

Mia

Click here to see more of my Laughing Gull photos plus facts and information about this species.