2cy Baltic Gull L f fuscus

Baltic Gull - Larus fuscus fuscus

1-6: © Markku Kangasniemi, 29-05-2007. Tampere, Finland.

Very advanced 2cy fuscus from Sweden. With naked parts like this and even a mirror on P10, individuals like this can easily be confused with 3cy birds (as in plate 4). The white tips to the inner primaries are about as large as they get in second generation feathers; compare e.g. to C10H. Even without a ring, this bird can be aged as a 2cy by the presence of only a few (rather pale grey) adult-like feathers in mantle and wing coverts (again compare to the 3cy), in combination with a complete tail bar.