This Lesser Black-back is still basically in juvenile plumage. The upperparts are a very appealing scaly-pattern, with the nicely-edged juvenile scapulars retained.

This is a smaller gull than the Herring's, with a rounder head and weaker bill. The bill on a Lesser Black-back stays entirely black through the 1st year (as this one is), while Herring's tend to get progressively paler at the base as the season goes on.

Notice the streaked appearance of the breast, and pale head with pronounced mask around the eye. Also, notice that even at this angle, the limited view of the uppertail coverts contrast white in comparison to the rest of the upperparts. There is a noticeable dark bar formed on the greater coverts, and the tertials are totally-dark centered, with the pale fringe not running up to the greater coverts.