Gull Wing Specimens for Research

These wings, photographed with a digital camera, represent an interesting collection of gulls the identity of which is still being considered. They are surely either Herring Gulls or Herring X Glaucous-winged Gulls, but not actually knowing the genetic makeup of an individual, it's not that easy to decide. Some wings are accompanied by measurements of the bird and eye and eyering colors. They are all from Puget Sound, Washington, except one from North Carolina (surely a true Herring Gull) for comparison.

17090 male, Pierce Co., WA; Dec; wing chord 422, head+bill 132.2, tarsus 70.2 mm; iris dull yellow, extremely heavily flecked with brown, eyering dull pale pink

17091 male, Pierce Co., WA; Dec; wing chord 421, head+bill 131.9, tarsus 73.4, culmen 62.4 mm; iris dull yellow, flecked with brown, eyering dull pink

17092 female, Pierce Co., WA; Dec; head+bill 126.6; iris dull yellow with brown flecks (~30% flecked), eyering pale red  

20443 female, King Co., WA; Dec

22463 male, King Co., WA; Nov; head+bill 129, culmen 57.3, tarsus 74.0; iris pale yellow, eyering gray with pale yellow front and back corners

22464 female, King Co., WA; Nov; head+bill 121.8, culmen 55.8, tarsus 74.3; iris yellow heavily flecked with brown, eyering gray with yellow front and back corners

22470 male, King Co., WA; Dec; iris solid yellow, eyering pale pink with pale yellow highlight at corners

22474 male, King Co., WA; Dec; iris light tan with dark flecking, especially in lower half

22475 male, King Co., WA; Dec; iris pale yellow with scattered brown flecks, eyering yellow with pink corners

22478 female, King Co., WA; Dec; iris yellow with ca 10 small specks, eyering pale yellow with pink highlights

22480 female, King Co., WA; Dec; iris tan, heavily flecked dark brown, eyering pale pink

22705 male, King Co., WA; Dec; iris solid yellow, eyering pale pink-red (color of legs)

22706 female, King Co., WA; Dec; iris yellow, 5% brown flecks & smudges; eyering & pale yellow

22906 Herring Gull, female, New Hanover Co., NC; Jan; iris pale yellow, 13 small dark flecks in left, 10 in right, <5% coverage