This bird was keeping company with the young Ring-billed in the frame, as well as a 1st-winter Herring, all mobbing the loon in the background. On the water the intermediate size was apparent. In color, the Black-backed was darker on the upperparts, and still looked to have all of its neatly-marked juvenile scapulars. The underparts were white with obvious streaking, with obvious contrast to the upperparts, and the head was light with a heavy eye-mask.