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IORC Number
1985.050

Species/Form in Question
Lesser Black-backed Gull

Scientific Name
Larus fuscus

Current Status of Record:
Rejected

Date of Initial Sighting:
1985-02-06

Date of Last Sighting:
1985-02-06

Quantity:
1

Age/Gender:

Observers(s)

Location
Powerton Lake

Counties Observed in:
Tazewell

References
2nd IORC Report


Details
This was most likely a correct sighting (published in Illinois Birds and Birding vol. 1 p. 69 and American Birds vol. 39 p.173), but there was no specific judgment of how the mantle color would have compared to similar species, while the size was said to be the same as the surrounding Herring Gulls and the bird was said to completely lack head streaking. These last two characteristics are atypical of winter Lesser Black-backed Gulls and were also shown by a gull thought by experts to be a likely hybrid Herring x Lesser Black-backed, which was found at Joliet about 22 months later (1986.196). There is some possibility that these were even the same birds.
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