After the publication of the 28th MARC report on the status and distribution of the Mew Gull complex in Massachusetts (Iliff 2025), several readers asked for a companion piece covering identification of Common Gull (Larus canus) and Short-billed Gull (Larus brachyrhynchus). Although this is not intended to be the definitive guide to separating these tricky taxa—for that, see Adriaens and Gibbins (2016)—we present an introduction to this ID challenge along with some practical tips about field identification and documentation best practices.
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