Candidate Heuglin's Gull L heuglini



Heuglin's Gull - Larus heuglini

Heuglin's Gull - Larus heuglini

Heuglin's Gull - Larus heuglini

Heuglin's Gull - Larus heuglini

Heuglin's Gull - Larus heuglini

Heuglin's Gull - Larus heuglini

1-2: © Mars Muusse, 28-06-06; 3-4: © Mars Muusse, 09-07-06; 5: © Ruud Altenburg, 09-07-06; 6: © Ruud Altenburg, 23-07-06. Amsterdam, Netherlands.

A more advanced candidate than the previous birds from Amsterdam. Both in flight and perched, the similarities to Caspian Gull are obvious. This individual has replaced the tail and about half of the secondaries on the wintering grounds. The renewed inner primaries are pale grey. For more pictures and information about this bird, please see Ruud Altenburg's site.

Again a bird obviously very different from the average 2cy Lesser Back-backed Gull but the question remains how extreme the variation in this taxon can be. If you have photographs of a ringed 2cy Lesser Black-backed Gull similar to this individual, please contact the authors.