The Heerman’s Gull is another west coast species, but it inhabits the warmer climes of California and the Baja Peninsula. Individuals have been well-documented in Texas six times, the latest in 2020 near Fort Worth (distant digi-scoped photo below).
The Heerman’s is a very dark gull which can be mistaken of a Jaeger when seen at a distance. It has a conspicuous white head and red bill in alternate plumage, and in basic the head is gray, but the bill remains striking red. It is about the size of a Ring-billed, though bulkier.
