Is This Balding / Thinning or a Cowlick / Part?

[TCahill29]

I am currently 30 years old. Will be turning 31 in a few months. Nervous that there may be some thinning on top. You can see the cowlick, but it looks like it continues to run up through the top of the head. Not sure if this is a part, or if I am in the early stages of balding. When I brush my hair back, it does part in the center. I never noticed it before, but I never looked before.

Genetics are a split. Mother’s side has full heads of hair all the way around (her dad & 4 brothers all have no hair loss into 70s). Biological dad’s side is rough. All brothers are horseshoe bald, except for my dad, who has an almost full head of hair (slight recession at the front and he is 55).

Haven’t noticed any shedding; no hair on pillow other than a few strands; no hair in shower. I have a strong hairline which looks exactly the same as it did 15 years ago. Tried looking at pictures of when I was younger with the top, but nothing captures that part of my head.

First 4 pictures are the top dry. Second 2 are the top wet. Last 2 are the hairline and back when dry.

If balding, it is what it is. Would rather get objective opinions. What do you guys think?