"OLYMPIC" GULL Larus glaucescens x occidentalis

In a zone of hybridization of up to 500km of the west coast, centred on the Olympic peninsular in Washington state, as many as 75% of birds are hybrids of the previous two species. As not all birds seem to be fertile (especially females) this results in a great variety of plumages, some of which approach the parent species, but others which resemble a bulky Thayer's Gull.

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