Black-tailed Gull

Overview
Black-tailed Gull: Large gull with white head, neck, breast, and underparts; light charcoal-gray wings and back; large yellow bill with black ring above red tip; pale yellow eyes with red orbital ring; short yellow legs and feet; long wings; telltale short black tail with white edge.

Range and Habitat
Black-tailed Gull: Nomadic. Primarily Asian straggler, casual to coastal Alaska and northeastern North America, as far south as Virginia; has been seen in San Diego Bay.

INTERESTING FACTS
A study in Japan found that their eggs come in three shapes, 68% are conical, 23% are longitudinal and 9% are oval. The Black-tailed Gull has a cat-like call, giving it its Japanese name-Umineko, or Sea cat, and Korean name-Gwaeng-yi gull, which means cat gull. There are about 11 records for Alaska and another 9 or so for the rest of North America, including sightings as far south as Belize and as far east as Newfoundland. A group of gulls has many collective nouns, including a "flotilla", "gullery", "screech", "scavenging", and "squabble" of gulls.