Gull spotted on Portland bridge is a long way from home
PORTLAND, Ore. - The Oregon birding community was set abuzz recently with the discovery of a Slaty-backed Gull along the Willamette River in downtown Portland.
The species is native to Asia, with small numbers occurring in western Alaska. Every year, a few individuals take a wrong turn and wander across North America.
The Portland bird seems quite comfortable in the Rose City, having spent much of the past several weeks perching on light fixtures on the Burnside Bridge.
Portland’s riverfront is the winter home to several gull species each winter. Glaucous-winged and Western Gulls (along with frequent hybrids between the two), Herring Gulls, Ring-billed Gulls, and Thayer’s Gulls can all be expected.
Identifying gulls is a challenge for many, as the birds take up to four years to reach maturity. But sorting through the raucous array of birds sometimes results in a rare find.
The Slaty-backed Gull currently staying in Portland is in its third year. There is still some brownish coloring on the wings, a smudge of black on the tail, and the bill pattern is pale with a dark tip, instead of yellow with a red tip. But its back is still darker than any other gull on the river, and its white eyes stand out at close range.
The Slaty-backed Gull will probably remain into March before heading back north to its normal home range in the Bering Sea.
The species is native to Asia, with small numbers occurring in western Alaska. Every year, a few individuals take a wrong turn and wander across North America.
The Portland bird seems quite comfortable in the Rose City, having spent much of the past several weeks perching on light fixtures on the Burnside Bridge.
Portland’s riverfront is the winter home to several gull species each winter. Glaucous-winged and Western Gulls (along with frequent hybrids between the two), Herring Gulls, Ring-billed Gulls, and Thayer’s Gulls can all be expected.
Identifying gulls is a challenge for many, as the birds take up to four years to reach maturity. But sorting through the raucous array of birds sometimes results in a rare find.
The Slaty-backed Gull currently staying in Portland is in its third year. There is still some brownish coloring on the wings, a smudge of black on the tail, and the bill pattern is pale with a dark tip, instead of yellow with a red tip. But its back is still darker than any other gull on the river, and its white eyes stand out at close range.
The Slaty-backed Gull will probably remain into March before heading back north to its normal home range in the Bering Sea.
John Rakestraw is the author of Birding Oregon. He writes about nature for a variety of magazines, teaches classes on bird identification, and works as a birding guide. You can view his blog at http://johnrakestraw.net.
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