Great Black-backed Gull (Larus marinus)

(last update: July 12, 2015)

Great Black-backed Gull 1cy October

Description of 1st winter plumage

First-winter (Sep-Mar) similar to juvenile, but head and upper breast whiter with narrower dark streaks (especially around eye and on hindneck); forehead normally white. May show dark ear-spot. Mantle and scapulars pale grey to buff with blackish subterminal bars or anchor-shaped spots; often intermixed with juvenile feathers. Bill similar to juvenile, but some develop paler base from early winter. Pale individuals have whitish underparts, narrower dark subterminal marks on upperparts and narrow dark covert-markings. With wear may bleach as described under Herring Gull, but rarely as extreme (an extremely pale spring bird shown by Grant (1989a) could to my eyes be partly leucistic, as the upperparts appear unmarked, which is atypical even in very worn birds). (Malling Olsen, K. & Larsson, H. 2004 Gulls of Europe, Asia and North America. London: Christopher Helm).

Moult into first winter

Juvenile moult to first winter plumage partial Aug-Nov, including mantle, scapulars, and (probably) parts of head and body. Often no sign of moult into Nov/Dec. (Malling Olsen, K. & Larsson, H. 2004 Gulls of Europe, Asia and North America. London: Christopher Helm).

Although Malling Olssen states "often no sign of moult into Nov/Dec", this is not supported by data of ringed birds. The table presented below illustrates that over 90% of the 1cy birds in October (n = 23) do show (at least) the first signs of moult, i.e. new upper scapulars. And about 40% has started moult in the lower scapulars as well.

All wing-coverts, tertials and flight feathers still juvenile by October, except for the odd bird in any larger group.

top: marinus 1cy JH837 September 20 2010, Boulogne sur Mer, France (50.44 N - 01.35 E). Picture Jean-Michel Sauvage. All scapulars still juvenile.
Class: US=0%, LS=0%, TOT SCAPS=0% .
below: marinus 1cy JP873 October 23 2012, Boulogne-sur-Mer, NW France. Picture: Jean-Michel Sauvage. Five upper scapulars replaced, note the buffish tone in the fresh 2nd gen scapulars.
Class: US=1-25%, LS=0%, TOT SCAPS=1-25%.

Tables:

Moult in 1cy October GBBG - ringed birds.
CODE  
US
LS
TOT SCAPS
je318 black norway october 0 0 0
jp778 black norway october 0 0 0
ju834 black norway october 0 0 0
3al blue britain october 2 0 1
jy283 black denmark october 1 0 1
06c blue france october 1 0 1
44s black france october 2 0 1
56p black france october 1 1 1
78c blue france october 2 0 1
78g blue france october 1 0 1
j7rh blue france october 2 1 1
j9tt blue norway october 3 0 1
ja112 black norway october 1 0 1
jm06 black norway october 1 0 1
jp873 black norway october 1 0 1
jt275 black norway october 1 0 1
ju216 black norway october 1 0 1
ju818 black norway october 1 0 1
jz005 black norway october 2 0 1
jw353 black denmark october 4 0 2
m08 green france october 4 1 2
jay2 blue norway october 4 0 2
jp100 black norway october 4 1 2
jp784 black norway october 4 0 2
jz4x blue norway october 4 1 2
dkc 3m2139 denmark october 4 1 3
68k black france october 4 2 3
75a blue france october 4 3 3
j5re blue norway october 4 3 3
ju402 black norway october 4 1 3
jz2x blue norway october 4 1 3
jz323 black norway october 5 1 3
jl88 black norway october 4 3 4

below: graph corresponding to data from table 1. n=33. Distribution of replaced 2nd generation scapulars in October 1cy GBBG, separated into Upper Scapulars, Lower scapulars and for Total scapular region. Classification in 6 classes, running from 0% (no 2nd gen scaps) to 100% (all scaps in a region have been replaced).

It is clear from the column "Total scapulars" that less than 10% of the ringed October birds scored "0% 2nd gen scaps", in other words, the other 90+% of those 33 ringed birds had replaced at least one or more (upper) scapulars for 2nd gen feathers.

below: Great Black-backed Gull JA804 illustrates differences in colour and pattern between old juvenile 1st generation scapulars and fresh buffish 2nd generation feathers. Bird ringed as pullus on June 12 2012 at Salvøy, Karmøy, Rogaland, Norway (59°17'54"N 005°12'27"E). Picture: Jean-Michel Sauvage, September 28 2012, Boulogne-sur-Mer, NW France.

below: Distribution of replaced scapulars for "Total scapular region" for months August in hatch year until commencement of first complete moult in April. Classification in 6 classes, running from 0% (no 2nd gen scaps) to 100% (all scaps, including long rear scaps, have been replaced). Only ringed birds, n=238.

Origin of all 191 ringed bird, used in our sample. Several individual birds observed in more than one month.
britain
13
denmark
25
france
19
germany
3
holland
3
norway
115
russia
2
sweden
1
usa
10

Great Black-backed Gull (Larus marinus) 1cy JAY2 October 22 2001, Westkapelle, the Netherlands (51.33 N, 3.25 E).
jz2xwk211004b.jpg (132069 bytes)Great Black-backed Gull (Larus marinus) 1cy JZ2X October 21 2004, Westkapelle, the Netherlands (51.33 N, 3.25 E). Ringed in Norway. Picture Pim Wolf.
jz4xwk211004.jpg (141311 bytes)Great Black-backed Gull (Larus marinus) 1cy JZ4X October 21 2004, Westkapelle, the Netherlands (51.33 N, 3.25 E). Ringed in Norway. Picture Pim Wolf.
gbbgGreat Black-backed Gull (Larus marinus) 1cy J5RE October 19 2006, Boulogne sur Mer, France (50.44 N - 01.35 E). Picture Jean-Michel Sauvage.
gbbgGreat Black-backed Gull (Larus marinus) 1cy J7RH October 06 2006, Boulogne sur Mer, France (50.44 N - 01.35 E). Picture Jean-Michel Sauvage.
gbbgGreat Black-backed Gull (Larus marinus) 1cy J9TT October 26 2007, Westkapelle, the Netherlands.
8471j52c.jpg (85052 bytes)Great Black-backed Gull (Larus marinus) 1cy JA112 October 07 2008, Boulogne sur Mer, France (50.44 N - 01.35 E). Picture Jean-Michel Sauvage.
gbbgGreat Black-backed Gull (Larus marinus) 1cy JE318 October 15 & 19 2009, IJmuiden, the Netherlands.
8471j52c.jpg (85052 bytes)Great Black-backed Gull (Larus marinus) JP100 1cy: October 30 2011, IJmuiden, the Netherlands. Picture: Maarten van Kleinwee.
8471j52c.jpg (85052 bytes)Great Black-backed Gull (Larus marinus) JP778 1cy: October - November 2012, Den Oever, the Netherlands.
8471j52c.jpg (85052 bytes)Great Black-backed Gull (marinus) 1cy JP784 October 30 2012, Boulogne-sur-Mer, NW France. Picture: Jean-Michel Sauvage.
8471j52c.jpg (85052 bytes)Great Black-backed Gull (marinus) 1cy JP873 October 23 2012, Boulogne-sur-Mer, NW France. Picture: Jean-Michel Sauvage.
8471j52c.jpg (85052 bytes)Great Black-backed Gull (Larus marinus) JT275 1cy: October & November 2014, Zandvoort-IJmuiden, the Netherlands. Picture: Martijn Los.
8471j52c.jpg (85052 bytes)Great Black-backed Gull (Larus marinus) JU216 1cy: October 18 2014, Ter Heijde, the Netherlands. Picture: Caroline Walta.
8471j52c.jpg (85052 bytes)Great Black-backed Gull (Larus marinus) JU402 1CY, October 12 2014, Boulogne sur Mer, France. Picture Jean-Michel Sauvage.
5825stavangergbbg.jpg (55334 bytes)GreatBlack-backed Gull (Larus marinus) JU552 1CY, October 22 2017, Scheveningen, the Netherlands.
8471j52c.jpg (85052 bytes)Great Black-backed Gull (Larus marinus) JU818 1st cycle (1CY-2CY), October & December 2014 & February 2015 , IJmuiden, the Netherlands.
8471j52c.jpg (85052 bytes)Great Black-backed Gull (Larus marinus) JU834 1cy: October 11 2014, Den Oever, the Netherlands. Picture: Johan Buijsman.
8471j52c.jpg (85052 bytes)Great Black-backed Gull (Larus marinus) 1cy JW353 October 10 2010, Westkapelle, the Netherlands.
8471j52c.jpg (85052 bytes)Great Black-backed Gull (Larus marinus) JWX11 1CY, October 10 2016, Katwijk, the Netherlands.
8471j52c.jpg (85052 bytes)Great Black-backed Gull (marinus) 1cy JY283 October 29 2012, Boulogne-sur-Mer, NW France. Picture: Jean-Michel Sauvage.
8471j52c.jpg (85052 bytes)Great Black-backed Gull (Larus marinus) JZ005 1CY & 3CY, October 2014 & September 2016, Zandvoort & IJmuiden, the Netherlands.
8471j52c.jpg (85052 bytes)Great Black-backed Gull (Larus marinus) JZ323 1cy: October 31 2014, IJmuiden, the Netherlands. Picture: Martijn Los.
gbbgGreat Black-backed Gull (Larus marinus) 1cy JL88 October 21 2006, Boulogne sur Mer, France (50.44 N - 01.35 E). Picture Jean-Michel Sauvage.
gbbgGreat Black-backed Gull (Larus marinus) 1cy JM06 October 01 2006, Boulogne sur Mer, France (50.44 N - 01.35 E). Picture Jean-Michel Sauvage.
8471j52c.jpg (85052 bytes)Great Black-backed Gull (Larus marinus) DKC 3M-2139 1cy: October 22 2014, Scheveningen, the Netherlands. Picture: Ted van der Knaap.
7095jp36.jpg (66909 bytes)Great Black-backed Gull (Larus marinus) 1cy 78G October 07 2010, Boulogne / Mer, France. Picture Jean Michel Sauvage.
7095jp36.jpg (66909 bytes)Great Black-backed Gull (Larus marinus) 1cy 78C October 15 2008, Boulogne / Mer, France. Picture Jean Michel Sauvage.
GBBGGreat Black-backed Gull (Larus marinus) 1cy 06C October 29 2007, Boulogne sur Mer, France (50.44 N - 01.35 E). Picture Jean-Michel Sauvage.
GBBGGreat Black-backed Gull (Larus marinus) 1cy 57B October 21 2006, Boulogne sur Mer, France (50.44 N - 01.35 E). Picture Jean-Michel Sauvage.
GBBGGreat Black-backed Gull (Larus marinus) 1cy 75A October 20 2006, Boulogne sur Mer, France (50.44 N - 01.35 E). Picture Jean-Michel Sauvage.
8471j52c.jpg (85052 bytes)Great Black-backed Gull (Larus marinus) 41P 1CY-2CY, October 2015 - October 2016, Boulogne-sur-Mer, France. Picture: Jean-Michel Sauvage.
8471j52c.jpg (85052 bytes)Great Black-backed Gull (Larus marinus) 44S 1CY, October 21 2014, Boulogne sur Mer, France. Picture Jean-Michel Sauvage.
8471j52c.jpg (85052 bytes)Great Black-backed Gull (Larus marinus) 56P 1CY, October 08 2014, Boulogne sur Mer, France. Picture Jean-Michel Sauvage.
8471j52c.jpg (85052 bytes)Great Black-backed Gull (Larus marinus) 68K 1cy: October 25 2012, Westkapelle, the Netherlands. Picture: Corstiaan Beeke.
8471j52c.jpg (85052 bytes)Great Black-backed Gull (marinus) 1cy M08 October 29 2012, Boulogne-sur-Mer, NW France. Picture: Jean-Michel Sauvage.
8471j52c.jpg (85052 bytes)Great Black-backed Gull (marinus) M88 1CY, October 10 2014, Boulogne-sur-Mer, NW France. Picture: Jean-Michel Sauvage.
7095jp36.jpg (66909 bytes)Great Black-backed Gull (Larus marinus) 3AL 1CY-2CY, October 2013 - June 2014, near Dublin, Ireland. Picture: Stephen Lawlor, Ronnie Martin & Graham Prole.
8471j52c.jpg (85052 bytes)Great Black-backed Gull (marinus) 1CY no code October 04 2013, Boulogne sur Mer, France. Picture Jean-Michel Sauvage.
7095jp36.jpg (66909 bytes)Great Black-backed Gull (Larus marinus) 1CY, October 16 2016, Katwijk, the Netherlands.
7095jp36.jpg (66909 bytes)GreatBlack-backed Gull (Larus marinus) 1CY, October 26 2017, Katwijk, the Netherlands.
7095jp36.jpg (66909 bytes)GreatBlack-backed Gull (Larus marinus) 1CY, October 26 2017, Katwijk, the Netherlands.
7095jp36.jpg (66909 bytes)Great Black-backed Gull (Larus marinus) 1cy,October 27 2015, Scheveningen, the Netherlands.
7095jp36.jpg (66909 bytes)Great Black-backed Gull (Larus marinus) 1cy,October 27 2015, Scheveningen, the Netherlands.
7095jp36.jpg (66909 bytes)Great Black-backed Gull (L. marinus) 1cy, October 11 2011, Scheveningen, the Netherlands.
7095jp36.jpg (66909 bytes)Great Black-backed Gull (L. marinus) 1cy, October 11 2011, Scheveningen, the Netherlands.
7095jp36.jpg (66909 bytes)Great Black-backed Gull (L. marinus) 1cy, October 11 2011, Scheveningen, the Netherlands.