Herring Gull- Zilvermeeuw (argentatus & argenteus)

(last update: December 15, 2011 )

Herring Gull - 2cy December

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 A7BS 2cy (argenteus), November-December 2011, Boulogne/Mer, France (50.42N,1.34E). Picture: J-M Sauvage.
2cy argenteus in December, ringed in the UK. (61566 bytes)Herring Gull 1036 1cy (argenteus), December 29 2004, Westkapelle, the Netherlands (51.33N 03.25E). Picture by Pim Wolf.
Herring GullHerring Gull SU9T 2cy (argenteus), December 03 2012, Boulogne/Mer, France (50.42N, 1.34E). Picture: J-M Sauvage.
rings argenteus: Belgium
Herring GullHerring Gull FCAV 2cy (argenteus), December 22 2007, Westkapelle, the Netherlands. Ies Meulmeester.
1cy argenteus in November, ringed in Belgium. (25637 bytes)Herring Gull (argenteus) PBAX 2CY-3CY, December 2011 & December 2012, De Panne, Belgium. Picture: Peter Adriaens.
Herring GullHerring Gull SWAS 2cy (argenteus), December 02 2012, Boulogne/Mer, France (50.42N, 1.34E). Picture: J-M Sauvage.
1cy argenteus in November, ringed in Belgium. (25637 bytes)Herring Gull (argenteus) Y.HAZ 2CY, July & December 2015, Brouwersdam, the Netherlands.
rings argenteus: Netherlands
1cy argenteus in August, ringed in Belgium. (90559 bytes)Herring Gull PCJF 2cy (argenteus), December 23 2010, Scheveningen, the Netherlands.
Herring GullHerring Gull (argenteus) KBNU 2CY, March - December 2015, IJmuiden & Zandvoort, the Netherlands. Picture: Hein Verkade, Bep Scheen & Mars Muusse.
1cy argenteus in August, ringed in Belgium. (90559 bytes)Herring Gull KYAK 2cy (argenteus), December 24 2010, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
1cy argenteus in August, ringed in Belgium. (90559 bytes)Herring Gull YALB 2cy (argenteus), December 23 2010, IJmuiden, the Netherlands.
2cy argentatus in February, ringed in Norway. (75189 bytes)Herring Gull argenteus 0U 2CY, December 20 2015, Scheveningen, the Netherlands.
2cy argentatus in February, ringed in Norway. (75189 bytes)Herring Gull (argenteus) 44 2CY, October - December 2015, IJmuiden & Scheveningen, the Netherlands.
2cy argentatus in February, ringed in Norway. (75189 bytes)Herring Gull argenteus X1 2CY, December 2014, Noordwijk Strand, the Netherlands. Picture: Merijn Loeve.
2cy argentatus in February, ringed in Norway. (75189 bytes)Herring Gull (argenteus) NLA 6176403 2CY, December 17 2015, Scheveningen, the Netherlands.
1cy argenteus in September (65624 bytes)Herring Gull (argenteus) NLA 6175969 2CY, April & September-December 2015, NW France & the Netherlands. Picture: Jean-Michel Sauvage & Mars Muusse.
2cy argentatus in February, ringed in Norway. (75189 bytes)Herring Gull (argenteus) NLA 6175967 2CY-3CY, December 2015 & January 2016, Scheveningen & Katwijk, the Netherlands.
2cy argentatus in February, ringed in Norway. (75189 bytes)Herring Gull argenteus NLA 6168287 1CY-2CY, November 2012 -December 2013, Rotterdam Zuid, the Netherlands. Picture: Merijn Loeve.
3cy argenteus in January, ringed in the Netherlands. (68274 bytes)Herring Gull (argenteus) NLA 5.465.213 2CY, December 14 2015, Katwijk, the Netherlands.
3cy argenteus in January, ringed in the Netherlands. (68274 bytes)Herring Gull 5.419.232 2cy (argenteus), December 17 2007, Scheveningen, the Netherlands.
rings argentatus: Germany
1cy argenteus in August, ringed in Belgium. (90559 bytes)Herring Gull HC20 2cy (argentatus), December 11 2011, Zaandam, the Netherlands.
2cy argentatus in February, ringed in Norway. (75189 bytes)Herring Gull argentatus HM53 2CY-3CY, December 2014 & February 2015, Barneveld, the Netherlands. Picture: Merijn Loeve.
Herring GullHerring Gull AZ23 adult (argenteus), December 23 2011, Westkapelle, the Netherlands (51.33N 03.25E). Picture Pim Wolf.
rings argentatus: Denmark
2cy argentatus in May, ringed in Denmark. (64659 bytes)Herring Gull VF5J (argentatus)2011-2012, Finland. Pictures: Visa Rauste.
sub-adult argentatus in July, ringed in RussiaHerring Gull argentatus DKC 4409106 2CY, November - December 2016, Katwijk, the Netherlands.
3cy argenteus in January, ringed in the Netherlands. (68274 bytes)Herring Gull DKC 4086164 2cy (argentatus), December 23 2010, IJmuiden, the Netherlands.
rings argentatus: Denmark
Herring Gull (argentatus) J7127 2CY, December 18 2014, Hovindam - Oslo, Norway. Picture: John Sandøy.
Herring GullHerring Gull (argentatus) JL529 1st & 2nd cycle (2CY-3CY), March 2014 - March 2015, Leiden, the Netherlands. Picture: Maarten van Kleinwee & Mars Muusse.
unringed 2cy Herring Gulls
3cy argenteus in January, ringed in the Netherlands. (68274 bytes)Herring Gull argentatus 2CY, December 19 2016, Katwijk, the Netherlands.
3cy argenteus in January, ringed in the Netherlands. (68274 bytes)Herring Gull argentatus 2CY, December 19 2016, Katwijk, the Netherlands.
3cy argenteus in January, ringed in the Netherlands. (68274 bytes)Herring Gull argentatus 2CY, December 19 2016, Katwijk, the Netherlands.
3cy argenteus in January, ringed in the Netherlands. (68274 bytes)Herring Gull 2CY, December 19 2016, Katwijk, the Netherlands.
3cy argenteus in January, ringed in the Netherlands. (68274 bytes)Herring Gull 2CY, December 19 2016, Katwijk, the Netherlands.
3cy argenteus in January, ringed in the Netherlands. (68274 bytes)Herring Gull 2CY, December 14 2015, Katwijk, the Netherlands.
3cy argenteus in January, ringed in the Netherlands. (68274 bytes)Herring Gull 2CY, December 04 2015, Scheveningen, the Netherlands.
3cy argenteus in January, ringed in the Netherlands. (68274 bytes)Herring Gull 2CY, December 04 2015, Scheveningen, the Netherlands.
3cy argenteus in January, ringed in the Netherlands. (68274 bytes)Herring Gull 2CY, December 04 2015, Scheveningen, the Netherlands.
3cy argenteus in January, ringed in the Netherlands. (68274 bytes)Herring Gull 2CY, December 04 2015, Scheveningen, the Netherlands.
3cy argenteus in January, ringed in the Netherlands. (68274 bytes)Herring Gull 2CY, December 04 2015, Scheveningen, the Netherlands.
3cy argenteus in January, ringed in the Netherlands. (68274 bytes)Herring Gull 2CY, December 04 2015, Scheveningen, the Netherlands.
3cy argenteus in January, ringed in the Netherlands. (68274 bytes)Herring Gull 2CY, December 04 2015, Scheveningen, the Netherlands.
3cy argenteus in January, ringed in the Netherlands. (68274 bytes)Herring Gull 2CY, December 10 2015, Noordwijkerhout, the Netherlands.
3cy argenteus in January, ringed in the Netherlands. (68274 bytes)Herring Gull 2cy (argenteus), December 02 2012, Katwijk, the Netherlands.
3cy argenteus in January, ringed in the Netherlands. (68274 bytes)Herring Gull 2cy (argentatus), December 02 2012, Katwijk, the Netherlands.
3cy argentatus in January. (80207 bytes)Herring Gull 2cy, December 03 2013, Katwijk, the Netherlands.
3cy argenteus in January, ringed in the Netherlands. (68274 bytes)Herring Gull 2cy (argenteus), December 23 2010, IJmuiden, the Netherlands.
3cy argenteus in January, ringed in the Netherlands. (68274 bytes)Herring Gull (argentatus) 2nd cycle (2CY), December 18 2009, IJmuiden, the Netherlands. 
3cy argenteus in January, ringed in the Netherlands. (68274 bytes)Herring Gull (argentatus) 2nd cycle (2CY), December 20 2015, IJmuiden, the Netherlands. 
3cy argenteus in January, ringed in the Netherlands. (68274 bytes)Herring Gull 2cy (argentatus), December 15 2012, Scheveningen, the Netherlands.
3cy argentatus in January. (80207 bytes)Herring Gull 2cy, December 15 2014, Noordwijk, the Netherlands.
3cy argentatus in January. (80207 bytes)Herring Gull 2cy, December 15 2014, Noordwijk, the Netherlands.
3cy argentatus in January. (80207 bytes)Herring Gull 2cy, December 15 2014, Noordwijk, the Netherlands.
3cy argentatus in January. (80207 bytes)Herring Gull 2cy, December 15 2014, Noordwijk, the Netherlands.
3cy argentatus in January. (80207 bytes)Herring Gull 2cy, December 15 2014, Noordwijk, the Netherlands.
3cy argentatus in January. (80207 bytes)Herring Gull 2cy, December 15 2014, Noordwijk, the Netherlands.
3cy argentatus in January. (80207 bytes)Herring Gull 2cy (argentatus), December 03 2013, Katwijk, the Netherlands.
3cy argentatus in January. (80207 bytes)Herring Gull 2cy, December 15 2014, Noordwijk, the Netherlands. With 3CY.
3cy argenteus in January, ringed in the Netherlands. (68274 bytes)Herring Gull argentatus 2CY, December 04 2015, Scheveningen, the Netherlands.
3cy argenteus in January, ringed in the Netherlands. (68274 bytes)Herring Gull argentatus 2CY, December 04 2015, Scheveningen, the Netherlands.
3cy argenteus in January, ringed in the Netherlands. (68274 bytes)Herring Gull 2cy (argentatus), December 23 2010, Scheveningen, the Netherlands.
3cy argenteus in January, ringed in the Netherlands. (68274 bytes)Herring Gull 2cy (argentatus), December 23 2010, Scheveningen, the Netherlands.
3cy argenteus in January, ringed in the Netherlands. (68274 bytes)Herring Gull 2cy (argentatus), December 23 2010, Scheveningen, the Netherlands.