Herring Gull- Zilvermeeuw (argentatus & argenteus)

(last update: December 15, 2011 )

Herring Gull - 2cy September

Introduction

This website deals with the Herring Gulls of the taxa argentatus and argenteus. Argenteus is an abundant breeding species on Iceland, Britain, NW France, Belgium, the Netherlands and N Germany. The taxon argentatus breeds in NE Europe, from Denmark, the coast of the Baltic Sea, Scandinavia and coast of the White Sea. In the centre of the breeding range (Denmark and the NW German coast), birds show intermediate characteristics, indicating there is a cline in argenteus-argentatus. Argenteus in Western Europe is pale-backed, slightly smaller and with relatively much black in the wing-tip; argentatus in the NE Europe is larger, slightly darker on upper-parts and show less black in the wing-tip.
Due to the large breeding range, there is much intra-specific variation in argentatus, with most large, powerful birds in the northern populations, showing the most darkest upper-parts, longest wing and most white in the outer-wing. In this region, some populations may hold substantial number of yellow-legged argentatus. (referred to as "Finnmark yellow-legged argentatus"). In adult plumage, the black sub-terminal spot on P5 is often lacking or strongly reduced to a diffuse streak, broken at the centre. Sometimes P6 lacks black as well. 
In the Baltic region, other yellow-legged argentatus populations occur ("Baltic yellow-legged argentatus"), with adults showing even brighter yellow legs in summer and the upper-parts only slightly darker than West European argenteus, still much paler than Yellow-legged Gull (michahellis). Those Baltic argentatus often show a black sub-terminal spot on P5 in adult plumage.
On these web-pages, we largely follow P.J. Grant: "Gulls, a guide to identification" and E.K Barth's publication as Contribution No. 86, Zoological Museum, University of Oslo: "The circumpolar systematics of Larus argentatus and Larus fuscus with special reference to the Norwegian populations".

   

 

rings argenteus: U.K.


Herring GullHerring Gull A5AB, 2cy (argenteus), September 03 2008, Boulogne/Mer, France (50.42N,1.34E). Picture: J-M Sauvage.
Herring GullHerring Gull A5UW, 2cy (argenteus), September 04 2009, Boulogne/Mer, France (50.42N,1.34E). Picture: J-M Sauvage.
1cy argenteus in August, ringed in Belgium. (90559 bytes)Herring Gull (argenteus) A:D29 2CY, September 20 2015, IJmuiden, the Netherlands (52.27N 04.33E). 
Herring Gull R8RT 2CY, September 30 2016, Westkapelle, the Netherlands.
rings argenteus: France
Herring GullHerring Gull 1XA, 2cy (argenteus), September 09 2010, Westkapelle, the Netherlands.
Herring GullHerring Gull 68A, 2cy (argenteus), September 24 2008, Boulogne/Mer, France (50.42N,1.34E). Picture: J-M Sauvage.
Herring GullHerring Gull HEA, 2cy (argenteus), September 23 2009, Boulogne/Mer, France (50.42N,1.34E). Picture: J-M Sauvage.
Herring GullHerring Gull 511A, 2cy (argenteus), September 02 2010, Boulogne/Mer, France (50.42N,1.34E).
rings argenteus: Belgium
Herring Gull (argenteus) BG.0B 2CY, September 25 2018, Westkapelle, the Netherlands.
Herring Gull (argenteus) C.B0Z 2CY, September 18 2018, Westkapelle, the Netherlands.
Herring Gull (argenteus) C.D0T 2CY, September 18-25 2018, Westkapelle, the Netherlands.
Herring Gull (argenteus) C.M0V 2CY, September 18 2018, Westkapelle, the Netherlands.
1cy argenteus in November, ringed in Belgium. (25637 bytes)Herring Gull CLAR 2cy (argenteus), September 24-30 2009, Westkapelle, the Netherlands. Also as 3cy.
1cy argenteus in November, ringed in Belgium. (25637 bytes)Herring Gull CPAA 2cy (argenteus), September 19 2009, Westkapelle, the Netherlands.
1cy argenteus in November, ringed in Belgium. (25637 bytes)Herring Gull CSAR 2cy (argenteus), September 19 2009, Westkapelle, the Netherlands. Also as 3cy.
1cy argenteus in November, ringed in Belgium. (25637 bytes)Herring Gull CSAX 2cy (argenteus), September 30 2009, Westkapelle, the Netherlands. Picture Pim Wolf.
2cy argentatus in February, ringed in Norway. (75189 bytes)Herring Gull (argenteus) F.V0Z 1CY, September 2018 & 2019, Westkapelle, the Netherlands.
1cy argenteus in November, ringed in Belgium. (25637 bytes)Herring Gull (argenteus) MJA.J 2CY, September 2010, Westkapelle, the Netherlands.
adult argenteus in October, ringed in Belgium. (60142 bytes)Herring Gull H-153830 2cy (argenteus), September 19 2009, Westkapelle, the Netherlands.
adult argenteus in October, ringed in Belgium. (60142 bytes)Herring Gull H-161237 2cy (argenteus), August & Sept 2010 & Sept 2011, Westkapelle, the Netherlands.
adult argenteus in October, ringed in Belgium. (60142 bytes)Herring Gull H-1612xx 2cy (argenteus), September 24 2010, Westkapelle, the Netherlands.
adult argenteus in October, ringed in Belgium. (60142 bytes)Herring Gull H-901608 2cy (argenteus), September 19 2011, Westkapelle, the Netherlands.
adult argenteus in October, ringed in Belgium. (60142 bytes)Herring Gull H-901620 2cy (argenteus), September 19 2011, Westkapelle, the Netherlands.
2cy argenteus in September, ringed in Belgium. (79316 bytes)Herring Gull H-131045 2cy (argenteus), September 18 2004, IJmuiden, the Netherlands (52.27N 04.33E).
2cy argenteus in September, ringed in Belgium. (78282 bytes)Herring Gull H-117926 2cy (argenteus), September 22 2002, Boulogne/Mer, NW France (50.43N 01.37E).
2cy argenteus in September, ringed in Belgium. (77517 bytes)Herring Gull H-117632 2cy (argenteus), September 22 2002, Boulogne-sur-Mer, NW France (50.43N 01.37E).
rings argenteus: Netherlands
2cy argentatus in February, ringed in Norway. (75189 bytes)Herring Gull argenteus 1|8 2CY, September 14 2019, Westkapelle, the Netherlands.
2cy argenteus in April, ringed in the Netherlands. (75958 bytes)Herring Gull (argenteus) 2|J 2CY, April & September 2019, Katwijk & Scheveningen, the Netherlands.
2cy argentatus in February, ringed in Norway. (75189 bytes)Herring Gull argenteus B|U 1CY-2CY, October 2018 & September 2019, Katwijk & Westkapelle, the Netherlands.
2cy argentatus in February, ringed in Norway. (75189 bytes)Herring Gull argenteus D|9 2CY, September 17 2019, Scheveningen, the Netherlands.
Herring Gull (argenteus) F|0 2CY, September 18-25 2018, Westkapelle, the Netherlands.
2cy argentatus in February, ringed in Norway. (75189 bytes)Herring Gull argenteus H|C 2CY, September 17 2019, Scheveningen, the Netherlands.
2cy argentatus in February, ringed in Norway. (75189 bytes)Herring Gull argenteus H|D 2CY, September 18 2019, Zandmotor - Ter Heijde, the Netherlands.
2cy argentatus in February, ringed in Norway. (75189 bytes)Herring Gull (argenteus) H|J 2CY, February & September - October 2019, Scheveningen, the Netherlands.
2cy argentatus in February, ringed in Norway. (75189 bytes)Herring Gull argenteus H|L 2CY, September 14 2019, Westkapelle, the Netherlands.
2cy argentatus in February, ringed in Norway. (75189 bytes)Herring Gull (argenteus) L|J 2CY, April & September 2019, Katwijk beach, the Netherlands.
2cy argentatus in February, ringed in Norway. (75189 bytes)Herring Gull argenteus P|6 2CY, September 30 2019, Katwijk beach, the Netherlands.
2cy argentatus in February, ringed in Norway. (75189 bytes)Herring Gull argenteus P|M 2CY, September 17 2019, Scheveningen, the Netherlands.
2cy argentatus in February, ringed in Norway. (75189 bytes)Herring Gull (argenteus) 9||N 2CY, September 07 2018, IJmuiden, the Netherlands.
Herring Gull (argenteus) 1||X 2CY, September 18 2018, Westkapelle, the Netherlands.
Herring Gull (argenteus) 2||U 2CY, September 18-25 2018, Westkapelle, the Netherlands.
Herring Gull (argenteus) 4||U 1CY-2CY, October 2017 & September 2018, Brouwersdam, the Netherlands.
2cy argentatus in Jan-Febr, ringed in Russia.Herring Gull (argenteus) 6||1 2CY-3CY, September 2018 & February 2019, IJmuiden & Katwijk, the Netherlands.
Herring Gull (argenteus) 7||8 2CY, September 18 2018, Westkapelle, the Netherlands.
2cy argentatus in February, ringed in Norway. (75189 bytes)Herring Gull argenteus 9||N 2CY-3CY, September 2018 & September - October 2019, Scheveningen, the Netherlands.
1cy argenteus in November, ringed in Belgium. (25637 bytes)Herring Gull (argenteus) A||V 1CY-2CY, October 2016 - September 2017, Katwijk, the Netherlands.
Herring Gull (argenteus) S||T 2CY, September 18-25 2018, Westkapelle, the Netherlands.
1cy argenteus in November, ringed in Belgium. (25637 bytes)Herring Gull argenteus RN 2CY & 8CY, September 2010 & September 2016, Westkapelle, the Netherlands.
1cy argenteus in August, ringed in Belgium. (90559 bytes)Herring Gull (argenteus) Y.ALB 2cy, September 09 2010, IJmuiden, the Netherlands.
1cy argenteus in November, ringed in Belgium. (25637 bytes)Herring Gull (argenteus) Y.BDS 1CY-4CY,September 2012, July 2014 & February 2015, IJmuiden, the Netherlands.
2cy argentatus in February, ringed in Norway. (75189 bytes)Herring Gull (argenteus) Y.BMD 1CY-4CY, August 2013 - April 2016, IJmuiden, the Netherlands.
2cy argenteus in April, ringed in the Netherlands. (75958 bytes)Herring Gull (argenteus) Y.CLA 1CY-3CY, October 2017, April - October 2018, May - August 2019, IJmuiden & Katwijk, the Netherlands.
2cy argentatus in February, ringed in Norway. (75189 bytes)Herring Gull (argenteus) K.AZV 1CY-5CY, November 2013 - May 2017, the Netherlands.
Herring GullHerring Gull (argenteus) K.BMF 1CY-4CY, September 2014 - January 2017, Den Haag - Scheveningen, the Netherlands. 
Herring Gull (argenteus) K.CHC 2CY, September 25 2018, Westkapelle, the Netherlands.
1cy argenteus in August, ringed in Belgium. (90559 bytes)Herring Gull K.XAY 2cy (argenteus), September 01 2011, IJmuiden, the Netherlands.
Herring Gull (argenteus) NLA 6.179.193 2CY, September 18 2018, Westkapelle, the Netherlands.
1cy argenteus in November, ringed in Belgium. (25637 bytes)Herring Gull (argenteus) NLA 6176773 1CY-2CY, October 2015 & September 2016, Westkapelle, the Netherlands. Picture: Maarten van Kleinwee & Mars Muusse.
Herring Gull argenteus NLA 6.176.766 2CY, September 30 2016, Westkapelle, the Netherlands.
1cy argenteus in September (65624 bytes)Herring Gull (argenteus) NLA 6176353 2CY, September 24 2015, IJmuiden, the Netherlands.
1cy argenteus in September (65624 bytes)Herring Gull (argenteus) NLA 6175969 2CY, April & August-December 2015, NW France & the Netherlands. Picture: Jean-Michel Sauvage, Merijn Loeve & Mars Muusse.
1cy argenteus in September (65624 bytes)Herring Gull (argenteus) 2cy NLA 6.171.508 September 19 2013, Katwijk, the Netherlands.
adult argenteus in October, ringed in the Netherlands. (79042 bytes)Herring Gull 2cy 6.166.510 (argenteus), September 22 2011, IJmuiden, the Netherlands.
2cy argentatus in November. (81321 bytes)Herring Gull 2cy 6.166.438 (argenteus), September 23 2011, Scheveningen, the Netherlands.
Herring Gull (argenteus) NLA 5.511.331 2CY, September 18 2018, Westkapelle, the Netherlands.
Herring Gull (argenteus) NLA 5.504.396 2CY, September 28 2016, Katwijk, the Netherlands.
Herring Gull argenteus NLA 5.484.612 2CY, September 30 2016, Westkapelle, the Netherlands. Picture: Maarten van Kleinwee & Mars Muusse.
2cy argenteus in July, ringed in the Netherlands. (103953 bytes)Herring Gull 5.463.318 2cy (argenteus), August-September 2011, IJmuiden, the Netherlands.
2cy argentatus in November. (81321 bytes)Herring Gull 2cy 5.463.049 (argenteus), September 23 2011, Scheveningen, the Netherlands.
3cy argenteus in January, ringed in the Netherlands. (68274 bytes)Herring Gull 5.417.498 2cy (argenteus), September 19 2008, IJmuiden, the Netherlands (52.27N 04.33E).
2cy argenteus in September, ringed in the Netherlands. (76856 bytes)Herring Gull 5.412.501 2cy (argenteus), September 24 2002, IJmuiden, the Netherlands (52.27N 04.33E). 
2cy argenteus in September, ringed in the Netherlands. (98248 bytes)Herring Gull 5.411.126 2cy (argenteus), September 21 2004, Scheveningen, the Netherlands.
2cy argenteus in September, ringed in the Netherlands. (71456 bytes)Herring Gull 5.366.982 2cy (argenteus), September 24 2002, IJmuiden, the Netherlands (52.27N 04.33E). 
2cy argenteus in September, ringed in the Netherlands. (67079 bytes)Herring Gull 5.358.143 2cy (argenteus), September 24 2002, IJmuiden, the Netherlands (52.27N 04.33E). 
rings argentatus: Helgoland / Germany
2cy argentatus in February, ringed in Norway. (75189 bytes)Herring Gull argentatus HAPEA 2CY, September 13 2019, Katwijk beach, the Netherlands.
2cy argentatus in February, ringed in Norway. (75189 bytes)Herring Gull argentatus DEW 4285099 2CY, September 01-02 2006, IJmuiden, the Netherlands (52.27N-04.33E).
2cy argenteus in September, ringed in Germany. (80277 bytes)Herring Gull 4238828 2cy (argentatus), September 30 2002, IJmuiden, the Netherlands (52.27N 04.33E).
rings argentatus: Denmark
2cy argentatus in February, ringed in Norway. (75189 bytes)Herring Gull argentatus DKC 4421950 2CY, September 17 2019, Noordwijk-Langevelderslag, the Netherlands.
1cy argenteus in November, ringed in Belgium. (25637 bytes)Herring Gull (argentatus) DKC 4408896 2CY, August - September 2016, Brouwersdam, the Netherlands.
rings argentatus: Norway
Herring Gull argentatus J7M3 2CY, September 26 2015, Vest-Agder, Norway. Picture: Nils Helge Lorentzen.
2cy argentatus in September, ringed in Norway. (100979 bytes)Herring Gull 2cy 4224485 (argentatus), September 24 2002, IJmuiden, the Netherlands (52.27N 04.33E). 
2cy argentatus in September, ringed in Norway. (61679 bytes)Herring Gull 2cy 4241750 (argentatus), September 21 2004, Scheveningen, the Netherlands.
rings argentatus: Finland
1cy argenteus in September (65624 bytes)Herring Gull argentatus C692H 2CY, September 28 2003, Tampere dump, Finland. Picture: Visa Rauste.
Herring Gull argentatus C5N03 2CY, April - September 2007, Tampere dump, Finland. Picture: Visa Rauste.
rings argentatus: Russia
2cy argentatus in Jan-Febr, ringed in Russia.Herring Gull KH89 2cy (argentatus), September 05 2010, IJmuiden, the Netherlands.
1cy argenteus in August, ringed in Belgium. (90559 bytes)Herring Gull (argentatus) KW52 2CY, June & September 2013, Noordwijk & IJmuiden, the Netherlands.
unringed - flying
sub-adult Herring Gull in September. (75836 bytes)Herring Gull (argenteus) 2CY, September 01 2015, Noordwijk, the Netherlands. 
sub-adult Herring Gull in September. (75836 bytes)Herring Gull (argenteus) 2CY, September 01 2015, Noordwijk, the Netherlands. 
2cy argentatus in Jan-Febr, ringed in Russia.Herring Gull 2cy, September 11 2012, Noordwijk, the Netherlands.
2cy argentatus in Jan-Febr, ringed in Russia.Herring Gull 2cy, September 12 2012, IJmuiden, the Netherlands.