Idaho’s Rare Visitor
Birdwatching
Hundreds of bird-watchers from throughout the country are showing up at American Falls Reservoir to observe a Ross’ gull that has made its first confirmed visit to Idaho.
Standing only about 8 inches tall and weighing just 6 to 8 ounces, the gull is smaller than the other species common to the reservoir.
The Ross’ gull is the only gull with a wedge-shaped V tail. It is whitish pale gray with a stubby black tail, a white mark behind each eye, and a pink tint to its belly and lower breast. Its legs are red.
The gull is about 2,000 miles southwest of its typical North American range, the Arctic Circle around Hudson’s Bay.