Family: Gulls (Laridae)
Genus & Species : Larus heermanni
Status: Common along the Pacific coast, uncommon to rare along the southeast shoreline of the Salton Sea, and a very rare vagrant in Arizona
Habitat: This dark gull breeds on offshore islands in Mexico and then wanders up the Pacific coastline as far north as British Columbia during the post-breeding season. Immature and non-breeding birds regularly spend the whole season in southern California. A few pairs have bred along the rocky shoreline of Obsidian Butte at the Salton Sea.
Best Chances: This is a very easy bird to spot along the rocky cliffs of La Jolla, and during the fall and winter it is common almost anywhere along the southern California coastline.