This is birdnought. As the seasons change, different birds catch our eye, where spring brought

the swoop of swallows. Late fall or early winter poses the puzzle of identifying gulls.

The challenge of learning which gull is which brings to mind the Sunday crossword puzzle.

Completing it entails more clues, more cleverness, and more time than needed for the weekday version,

but feels so rewarding.

For identifying gulls, we recommend a good bird book, binoculars, and perhaps a thermos of hot coffee,

and you may want to bring along a chair.

This time of year, gulls wear fresh plumage, making autumn the ideal time to learn to identify them.

Start by looking only at adult gulls, the ones showing fully gray or black backs and white underparts.

To figure out a gulls ID, first gauge whether it's bigger or smaller than gulls near it.

Then check its leg color, pink or yellow?

You're more than halfway home already.

To clinch the ID, focus on the wingtips, bill shape, and whether it's light or

dark gray. Gulls are present in greater variety in mid-autum, posing an ample puzzle for inquisitive

minds. For Bird Note, I'm Michael Stein. Want more Bird Note sounds, images, and stories delivered straight to your inbox?

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