The Gull Guide - by Amar Ayyash (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

The definitive photographic guide to North American gulls

Gull identification can be challenging for even the most seasoned birder. While these birds are common to coasts, lakes, and rivers, they exhibit remarkable plumage changes related to age, which is sometimes complicated by similarities between species and a readiness to hybridize. This book provides an invaluable identification guide to all regularly occurring gull species and subspecies throughout North America. It is packed with the very latest research on field identification, updated taxonomy, current distribution trends, color maps, and helpful notes on natural history, aging, and molt. The Gull Guide integrates the essential elements that are critical to understanding gulls, setting an entirely new standard for identifying and enjoying these marvelous birds.

• Features more than 1,800 superb color photos
• Covers 36 gull species as well as 7 of the most commonly encountered hybrid gulls
• Gives equal attention to rarities from Asia, Europe, and South America
• Describes the key characteristics of all age groups, from juvenile through adult plumages
• Innovative photo collages give side-by-side comparisons, enabling readers to distinguish between similar species and avoid common pitfalls associated with gull identification
• Comes with a one-of-a-kind "cheat sheet" describing key features of select Larus species
• A must for the bookshelf of every birder and ornithologist

Review Quotes

"The eagerly awaited publication of The Gull Guide: North America by Amar Ayyash is a godsend. . . . If you have one goal for 2025 - make sure it's to get this book."---Stuart Winter, Sunday Gardening

"[A] magnum opus on gull identification."---Donna Schulman, 10,000 Birds Book Review

"A Birdbooker Report Best Bird Book of the Year"

"An American Birding Association Best Bird Book of the Year"

"Full of vivid and detailed photographs of the gulls themselves. . . . Just as importantly, it is organized in an easily digestible format for newcomers."---Matthw Rozsa, Salon

"Princeton University Press has published several high quality treatises on gulls over the past few years, and this volume continues that proud tradition."---David Gascoigne, Travels with Birds

About the Author

Amar Ayyash is a leading authority on the gulls of North America and a regular contributor to premier birding magazines and journals such as Birding, Western Birds, and North American Bird Bander. Host of the popular website anythinglarus.com, he organizes the Illinois Ornithological Society's annual Gull Frolic on Lake Michigan, the largest gull-watching event in the United States.