Mystery Gulls and Tern
I came across this image this morning while working up my post Bird images from warmer days and all at 300mm or less and thought it might make a great image for a Bird ID Quiz.
There are three different species of birds in this image, the image was created at Fort De Soto County Park’s north beach in Florida on April 24, 2009. I have supplied three answers to the quiz and only one of them is correct. Get out your bird guide books, check out the images/drawings and geographic ranges and see if you can figure out which answer is correct!
Juvenile Western Gull, 1st winter Franklin’s Gull, Elegant Tern: 1 vote (3%)
Juvenile Herring Gull, 1st winter Laughing Gull and Royal Tern: 25 votes (83%)
Juvenile Western Gull, 1st winter Franklin’s Gull, Royal Tern: 3 votes (10%)
Other answer: Clueless LOL = 1 Vote (3%)
I’ll post the answer on Monday morning! (See the correct answer here)
Mia
I am not a gull expert by any means, but the gull on the left, it it was a Western, I don’t think it would have near white base to the secondaries. The smaller gull is more tricky, but I would say that the bill is too long for a Franklin’s Gull. And the tern on the right, well the bill looks fairly thick, and its body length looks closer to the Western or Herring Gull than to the Franklin’s or Laughing, so it must be a pretty big tern! Whatever the correct answer is, fantastic photo Mia!
Thanks John, I was thrilled to watch these three chase and be chased and all I kept hoping was to keep all three of them in the frame and sharp!
Hi! I know the laughing Gull! I’m probbly wrong?
I can’t give away the answer until tomorrow Mom!
Without access to the immature birds except for a few, but seeing the Herring Gull had a white tip at the end of its mandible, I went with the Western Gull…. I have no photos at all of the Western Gull unless it’s called something else in my bird books…. Oh, Well, the process of illimination… I enjoy your tests, it makes us really see…. Many thanks. I notice the Royal Tern has a fish in it’s mouth and I suspect that’s why they are all flying in the same direction… Wonder who finally had it for lunch????
Merrill, the Tern did eventually swallow the fish even with the gulls hot on its tail!
I also voted, but what I meant is that I am not giving out hints as to what the answer is, since it’s meant to be a quiz.
I knew what you meant Maria!
I voted. 🙂
With your advanced bird knowledge I bet you got it right Ingrid!
I love the brain storming on these quizzes, but I am not telling this time. I like how they all fly in the same direction.
I’m glad Maria, I was hoping no one would give away the answer.
Great shot!
Thanks Wally!
wow, an other piece of master !!! excellent shot mia ☺
Thank you Eric 🙂