A possible hybrid Great Black-backed X Glaucous Gull or aberrant Great Black-backed Gull (adult) - Port of Indiana, Porter County, IN - January, 2011 and Miller Beach, Lake County, Indiana - January, 2013

This remarkable bird was first found by John Kendall in January, 2011. What appeared to be the same bird reappeared in February, 2012 and January, 2013. It looked identical to the "Great Black-backed X Glaucous Gull hybrid" on page 295 of Howell and Dunn's "Gulls of the Americas." However, the more I study this bird, the more I suspected that it is probably an aberrant Great Black-backed gull with just an odd primary pattern, and not a hybrid at all. The bird was very similar to an adult Great Black-backed Gull, but had pure white wing tips. Images 1-3 were taken at the Port of Indiana in January, 2011 (images 2 and 3 were taken and generously provided by John Kendall). The 4th image was taken a year later at the same location. Images 5 and 6 were taken at Miller Beach in January of 2013.

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aberrant GBBG or hybrid

aberrant GBBG or hybrid

aberrant GBBG or hybrid

aberrant GBBG or hybrid

aberrant GBBG or hybrid

aberrant GBBG or hybrid