Silver Gull

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Peery Lake, FW NSW IMG_1007 20081008 - adult; bright red bill suggests breeding. CLICK to zoom.

Notes: Common small gull w. red bill (brighter when breeding), legs & eye-ring; white iris. Clinal
variation in size of white 'mirrors' on black outer primaries: largest in Tasmania, smallest in N WA;
lost w. wear. IOC demarks 2 ssp — nominate in S and ssp forsteri (slightly larger) in N of Aust.
Juvenile brown & buff chequered on saddle & wing coverts; black bill, grey iris. Immature 1^st &
2^nd years to adult. Opportunistic scavenger on coasts and inland, especially near rubbish tips.

Range from Atlas of Living Australia^©

Foreshore, Black Rock, S Vic IMG_2499 20211020 - adult, 'mirrors' large. IOC ssp novaehollandiae

Western Treatment Plant, Werribee, S Vic IMG_8082 20190924 - adult, 'mirrors' large. IOC ssp novaehollandiae

Eaglehawk Neck Pelagic, SE Tas IMG_5591 20210606 - adult, 'mirrors' large. IOC ssp novaehollandiae. CLICK for another at
Currie, King Island, Tas 20211215.

Foreshore, Black Rock, S Vic IMG_9629 20210710 - juvenile harrassing a juvenile Pacific Gull. IOC ssp novaehollandiae

Roebuck Bay, Broome, FNW WA IMG_2811 20180913 - adults, 'mirrors' small. IOC ssp forsteri

Foreshore, Cairns, FNE Qld IMG_9069 20240306 - young adults squabbling over a prawn. CLICK for the victor.

Esplanade, Cairns, FNE Qld IMG_1254 20191024 - 'mirrors' small. IOC ssp forsteri. CLICK for another om 20221101

Darwin Water Front, N NT IMG_4303 20180730 - reduced 'mirrors', can be absent in ssp forsteri juvenile.
CLICK for Eaglehawk Neck, SE Tas IMG_4905 20210605 - larger mirrors in ssp novaehollandiae juvenile.

Foreshore, Cairns, FNE Qld IMG_3014 20230925 - fresh juvenile begging. CLICK for pirouette.

Foreshore, Black Rock, Melbourne, S Vic IMG_9757 20210730 - immatures foraging by prancing on the spot.

Foreshore, Cairns, FNE Qld MVI_3843 20190825 - adults & juveniles

Western Treatment Plant, Werribee, S Vic IMG_4785 20170326 - adult