Probably a herring gull, maybe a ring-billed gull. It's too far away to be sure unless you have spent a lot of time staring at both when you have them in the same place (which I have not), but somebody experienced would probably know right away based on the body shape and proportions.
The really interesting thing I learned from this photo is that gulls' eyes stick out on the sides of their head far enough that their peripheral vision probably lets them see straight down without turning their heads in flight!
Wow, you clearly love identifying things. Does it help if I say that this gull (and half-a-dozen others) paced the ferry from Woods Hole to Martha's Vineyard, hoping for handouts?
![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
branchandroot
no subject
Date: 2011-08-21 09:53 pm (UTC)The really interesting thing I learned from this photo is that gulls' eyes stick out on the sides of their head far enough that their peripheral vision probably lets them see straight down without turning their heads in flight!
no subject
Date: 2011-08-22 12:47 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-08-22 03:04 am (UTC)As to range and behavior, I'm not sure that helps.