I've always struggled with gulls, having added most of my lifers to my list by waiting until someone else finds one and then going to see it. I thought perhaps this book would make it easier for me to identify them, but it pretty much discouraged me, especially when it comes to any gull that hasn't reached adult plumage.

When I read passages like this, I'm ready to quit: "Some [Glaucous-winged Gulls] show a large, bulky body like that of Glaucous Gull, while others are more slender, like small Herring Gulls. Head shape ranges from domed to flat-topped, and the bill can be long and robust or smallish and slender." How I'm supposed to use those features as a comparison is beyond me. In fact, there were very few features on any gull that couldn't be (1) quite different, or (2) very similar to other gulls.

I think I will make more of an effort going forward, but the effort will mostly be toward adult gulls, and I'll try to get photos of any gull that doesn't look like a typical Ring-billed or Bonaparte's.