Pacific Gull

58-66 cm; span 1.3-1.5 m. Note the massive yellow bill, broadly tipped scarlet; yellow legs; upperwings and wingtips wholly black with narrow white inner trailing edge; white tail crossed by broad black subterminal band. Beware: some moulting adults in autumn have stumpy, all-white tails. Juvenile: dark brown; bill glossy black; eye dark; legs grey-brown. Immature: Year 2: forehead paler brown; pale margins to feathers form large ovals; rump paler; tail darker; bill horn-coloured with dark brown tip; eye and legs grey-brown. Year 3: forehead whiter; tail nearly black; rump whitish; bill cream with dark tip; eye white; legs yellowish. Year 4: like smutty adult. Singles, pairs, occasional loose companies: flies or sails steadily, high along tidelines; rises vertically 10-15 m in wind to drop molluscs on rocks, sand; follows fishing boats.