I'm seeing a bunch of different descriptions as to the age of the Yellow-footed Gull. So I thought I'd help clear it up. YFGUs are 3-year gulls. So for this species saying Adult or 3rd Cycle is essentially the same thing. Most of our other white-headed gulls are 4-year gulls. This gull is a 2nd cycle bird in its alternate stage. Based on only a smidge of black left in the tail, it is an advanced one at that. The black in the bill as well as red indicates an immature bird as adults only have a red gony spot. The high side of the mantle is lighter gray than the darker, lower mantle. An adult should have a mirror on P10 and this bird does not and the molt pattern of all wing coverts on top and underneath the wing are consistent with a 2nd alternate bird. You will see in the pics that the wings are not uniform in color.
Glenn got some good pics and you can see them here:
And I managed some decent flight shots here:
If you have Amar Ayyash's excellent gull guide, take a peek at the YFGU species account and note the photos of 2nd cycle birds.
Thanks to Mark Peterson for going on a ridiculous birding bender this week and bringing us yet another outstanding species for the state.
Bird is the word!
Josh Bruening
Fort Collins
Sent from my iPhone
On Jun 20, 2025, at 9:50 AM, quezada...@gmail.com <quezadapablo05@gmail.com> wrote:
Hey everybody!My name is Pablo and I'm a Denver birder. Just wondering if anyone is going down today who I could tag along with. I would obviously compensate with gas money. Just let me know!Thanks,Pablo--On Friday, June 20, 2025 at 7:22:05 AM UTC-6 Brandon wrote:Sounds like the gull was present early this morning at South Shore Marina at Pueblo Reservoir, Pueblo County, 20 June. Good luck to everyone trying to see it today and this weekend. I won't be around there today or tomorrow, family things going on. It was nice to see so many birding friends yesterday afternoon at Pueblo Reservoir. Congrats to Mark Peterson on another amazing find for Colorado.Brandon Percival
Pueblo West, CO
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