Hi Matt,

For gulls, I'd recommend

1. Gulls of North America, Europe and Asia by Olsen & Larsson (out of
print) -- http://press.princeton.edu/titles/7362.html
2. Gulls of the Americas by Howell & Dunn --
http://www.houghtonmifflinbooks.com/hmh/site/hmhbooks/bookdetails?isbn=9780618726417

I'd also suggest these videos:

3. The Large Gulls of North America --
http://jvanderpoel.qwestoffice.net/largeGulls.html
4. The Small Gulls of North America --
http://jvanderpoel.qwestoffice.net/smallGulls.html

Whatever resources you pick up, *nothing beats spending time studying each
and every feather on the local gulls*. Really get to know how to age and
identify the common species like Ring-billed, Bonaparte's and Herring
Gulls. What's the tail pattern on a second winter Herring Gull? What
distinguishes 2nd and 3rd winter Great Black-backed Gulls? Develop an eye
for detail trying to answer those kinds of questions, and you'll be well on
your way to picking out the rarities that turn up along the south shore of
Lake Erie.

Good birding,
Paul Hurtado
Columbus, OH

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