Herring Gull- Zilvermeeuw (argentatus & argenteus)

(last update: December 15, 2011 )

Herring Gull adults June

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".

Tables & Graph

remaining SPRING

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

starting date:

 30 Apr

 07 May

14 May

21 May

04 Jun

11 Jun

30 Jul

week no:

18

19

20

21

23

24

31

0

0

0

0

0

 

 

0

1

0

0

0

0

 

 

0

2

0

0

0

0

 

 

1

3

0

0

0

0

 

 

1

4

0

0

0

0

 

 

37

5

0

0

0

0

 

 

22

6

0

0

0

0

 

 

3

7

3

2

1

2

 

 

0

8

16

22

26

18

1

1

0

9

30

13

16

10

1

 

0

10

66

33

37

10

 

 

0

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

n=

115

70

80

40

2

1

64

average REM P:

9.4

9.1

9.1

8.7

8.5

8.0

4.4

95% CID =

0.15

0.23

0.20

0.29

6.35

 

0.17

inverse =

1.98

1.99

1.99

2.02

12.71

 

2.00

Variantie (s2) =

0.68

0.90

0.84

0.83

0.50

 

0.46

SD (s) =

0.82

0.95

0.91

0.91

0.71

 

0.68

SE (sx) =

0.08

0.11

0.10

0.14

0.50

 

0.09

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

% class:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

1

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

2

0

0

0

0

0

0

2

3

0

0

0

0

0

0

2

4

0

0

0

0

0

0

58

5

0

0

0

0

0

0

34

6

0

0

0

0

0

0

5

7

3

3

1

5

0

0

0

8

14

31

33

45

50

100

0

9

26

19

20

25

50

0

0

10

57

47

46

25

0

0

0

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

% control:

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

  Table above, data for the Netherlands (2000-2010), results for spring & summer (aggregated week): number of remaining old primaries in adults.
0 = 0 old primaries left (P10 dropped); 10 = all 10 primaries still old and present.

Above: Scatter Plot for PMS in adult Herring Gulls. Number of remaining old primaries throughout the year. Sample size is 1.329 birds.

Above: Scatter Plot for PMS in adult Herring Gulls throughout the year. Longest new primary is classified "fully grown". Sample size is 3.271 birds. Birds scored on NEW primaries.

LINEAR REGRESSION

Onset of primary moult can best be illustrated by a sinusoid for the first few weeks and last weeks, but there appears to be linear dependency over much of the central moult period.

LINEAR REGRESSION FOR OLD REMAINING PRIMARIES

Complete sample: Linear regression (n = 1329, R2= 0.935, sign: P<0,000)
PMS = -0,379* WEEK + 16,324.

LINEAR REGRESSION FOR NEW FULLY GROWN PRIMARIES

Complete sample: Linear regression (n = 3271 R2= 0.927, sign: P<0,000)
PMS = 0,322* WEEK - 6,071.

rings argenteus: U.K.
1cy argenteus in November, ringed in Belgium. (25637 bytes)Herring Gull A2JJ 8cy (argenteus), June 17 2009, Boulogne/Mer, France.
rings argenteus: France
Herring GullHerring Gull EA594518 adult (argenteus), June 2011 & March 2014, Boulogne/Mer, France. Picture: J-M Sauvage.
adult argenteus in June, ringed in France. (97160 bytes)Herring Gull DA 2???? adult (argenteus), June 13 2002, Boulogne/Mer, France (50.42N-01.34E).
rings argenteus: Belgium
Herring GullHerring Gull (argenteus) adult FPAA June 24 2013, Calais, NW France. Picture: Jean-Michel Sauvage.
adult argentatus in November, ringed in Estonia. (42082 bytes)Herring Gull (argenteus) MKAV adult, June 04 2011, Oostende, Belgium. Picture: Peter Adriaens.
Herring GullHerring Gull H-50949 12+cy (argenteus), 2010-2011, Leiden, the Netherlands.
Herring GullHerring Gull H133694 adult (argenteus), May & June 2010, Leiden, Netherlands.
Herring GullHerring Gull H152497 7cy (argenteus), June 12 2011, IJmuiden, Netherlands.
Herring GullHerring Gull argenteus BLB H-153589 8CY, June 20 2015, Calais, NW France. Picture: Jean-Michel Sauvage.
rings argenteus: the Netherlands
2cy argentatus in February, ringed in Norway. (75189 bytes)Herring Gull (argenteus) T.R 4CY-7CY, April 2016, May-June 2017 & March 2019, Katwijk, the Netherlands.
adult argenteus in October, ringed in the Netherlands. (79042 bytes)Herring Gull AZ 6cy (argenteus), June 12 2010, Zoetermeer, Netherlands. Picture: M v Kleinwee.
2cy argentatus in February, ringed in Norway. (75189 bytes)Herring Gull argenteus RG 9CY, June 2014, Delft-Voorhof, the Netherlands. Picture: Merijn Loeve.
adult argenteus in June. (69220 bytes)Herring Gull argenteus BY adult, June 06 2016, Maasvlakte, the Netherlands.
1cy argenteus in August, ringed in Belgium. (90559 bytes)Herring Gull argenteus Z.= adult, June 02 2017, Heemskerk, the Netherlands.
adult argenteus in June. (69220 bytes)Herring Gull argenteus BC adult, June 06 2016, Maasvlakte, the Netherlands.
adult argenteus in October, ringed in the Netherlands. (79042 bytes)Herring Gull (argenteus) WH adult, June 19 2017, Katwijk, the Netherlands.
Herring GullHerring Gull (argenteus) 5W 1CY-8CY, November 2007 - September 2014, Boulogne-sur-Mer, France. Picture: J-M Sauvage.
1cy argenteus in August, ringed in Belgium. (90559 bytes)Herring Gull (argenteus) Y.ADH 1CY & 6CY, August 2008 & June 2013, IJmuiden-Noordwijk, the Netherlands.
1cy argenteus in August, ringed in Belgium. (90559 bytes)Herring Gull Y.ASJ 4+cy (argenteus), June 13 2010, IJmuiden, the Netherlands.
1cy argenteus in November, ringed in Belgium. (25637 bytes)Herring Gull (argenteus) Y.BHL adult, August 2013 & June 2016, IJmuiden, the Netherlands. Picture: Maarten van Kleinwee.
1cy argenteus in August, ringed in Belgium. (90559 bytes)Herring Gull (argenteus) YBMD 1CY-5CY, August 2013 - June 2017, IJmuiden, the Netherlands.
1cy argenteus in August, ringed in Belgium. (90559 bytes)Herring Gull (argenteus) Y.BRD adult, September 2015 & June 2016, IJmuiden, the Netherlands. 
1cy argenteus in August, ringed in Belgium. (90559 bytes)Herring Gull (argenteus) Y.CJS adult, May - June 2017, Heemskerk, the Netherlands.
1cy argenteus in August, ringed in Belgium. (90559 bytes)Herring Gull M.ACX adult (argenteus), June 24 2011, Texel, the Netherlands.
1cy argenteus in August, ringed in Belgium. (90559 bytes)Herring Gull M.ACZ adult (argenteus), May & June 2011, Texel, the Netherlands.
1cy argenteus in August, ringed in Belgium. (90559 bytes)Herring Gull M.ALT adult (argenteus), June 24 2011, Texel, the Netherlands.
1cy argenteus in August, ringed in Belgium. (90559 bytes)Herring Gull M.APF adult (argenteus), June 24 2011, Texel, the Netherlands.
1cy argenteus in August, ringed in Belgium. (90559 bytes)Herring Gull M.APH adult (argenteus), June 24 2011, Texel, the Netherlands.
1cy argenteus in August, ringed in Belgium. (90559 bytes)Herring Gull F.AAC adult (argenteus), June 24 2011, Den Helder, the Netherlands.
1cy argenteus in August, ringed in Belgium. (90559 bytes)Herring Gull F.ABC adult (argenteus), June 24 2011, Texel, the Netherlands.
1cy argenteus in August, ringed in Belgium. (90559 bytes)Herring Gull F.ABD adult (argenteus), June 24 2011, Texel, the Netherlands.
1cy argenteus in August, ringed in Belgium. (90559 bytes)Herring Gull F.ABR adult (argenteus), June 24 2011, Texel, the Netherlands.
1cy argenteus in August, ringed in Belgium. (90559 bytes)Herring Gull F.ACN adult (argenteus), June 24 2011, Texel, the Netherlands.
1cy argenteus in August, ringed in Belgium. (90559 bytes)Herring Gull F.ADC adult (argenteus), June 24 2011, Texel, the Netherlands.
1cy argenteus in August, ringed in Belgium. (90559 bytes)Herring Gull F.AHK adult (argenteus),May & June 2011, Texel, the Netherlands.
1cy argenteus in August, ringed in Belgium. (90559 bytes)Herring Gull F.AJJ adult (argenteus), June 24 2011, Texel, the Netherlands.
1cy argenteus in August, ringed in Belgium. (90559 bytes)Herring Gull F.AJM adult (argenteus), June 24 2011, Texel, the Netherlands.
1cy argenteus in August, ringed in Belgium. (90559 bytes)Herring Gull F.AJN adult (argenteus), June 24 2011, Texel, the Netherlands.
1cy argenteus in August, ringed in Belgium. (90559 bytes)Herring Gull F.AKP adult (argenteus), June 24 2011, Texel, the Netherlands.
1cy argenteus in August, ringed in Belgium. (90559 bytes)Herring Gull F.APM adult (argenteus), June 24 2011, Texel, the Netherlands.
1cy argenteus in August, ringed in Belgium. (90559 bytes)Herring Gull F.APN adult (argenteus), June 24 2011, Texel, the Netherlands.
1cy argenteus in August, ringed in Belgium. (90559 bytes)Herring Gull F.APU adult (argenteus), June 24 2011, Texel, the Netherlands.
Herring GullHerring Gull DA 24-27cy (argenteus, 2009-2010, Leiden, Netherlands.
adult argenteus in October, ringed in the Netherlands. (79042 bytes)Herring Gull5.325.338 13cy (argenteus), June 13 2010, IJmuiden, the Netherlands.
adult argenteus in October, ringed in the Netherlands. (79042 bytes)Herring Gull (argenteus) NLA 5.359.482 18+CY, June 19 2017, Katwijk, the Netherlands.
Herring GullHerring Gull 5.411.494 10cy (argenteus), June 12 2011, IJmuiden, Netherlands.
Herring GullHerring Gull 5.413.028 9cy (argenteus), June 12 2011, IJmuiden, Netherlands.
Herring GullHerring Gull 5.419.235 5cy (argenteus), 2010-2011, Leiden, Netherlands.
adult argenteus in June. (69220 bytes)Herring Gull argenteus NLA 6.125.887 adult, June 06 2016, Maasvlakte, the Netherlands.
2cy argentatus in February, ringed in Norway. (75189 bytes)Herring Gull argenteus NLA 6.166.442 1CY & 8CY, September 2010 & May-June 2017, IJmuiden - Katwijk, the Netherlands. Pictures: Maarten van Kleinwee & Mars Muusse.
unringed adult Herring Gulls
adult argenteus in June. (69220 bytes)Herring Gull adult, June 08 2013, Noordwijk, the Netherlands. 
adult argenteus in June. (69220 bytes)Herring Gull adult, June 08 2013, Noordwijk, the Netherlands. 
adult argenteus in June. (69220 bytes)Herring Gull adult, June 08 2013, Noordwijk, the Netherlands. 
adult argenteus in June. (69220 bytes)Herring Gull adult, June 08 2013, Noordwijk, the Netherlands. 
adult argenteus in June. (69220 bytes)Herring Gull adult, June 09 2013, Noordwijk, the Netherlands. 
adult argenteus in June. (69220 bytes)Herring Gull adult, June 09 2013, Noordwijk, the Netherlands. 
adult argenteus in June. (69220 bytes)Herring Gull adult, June 09 2013, Noordwijk, the Netherlands. 
adult argenteus in June. (69220 bytes)Herring Gull adult, June 09 2013, Noordwijk, the Netherlands. 
adult argenteus in June. (69220 bytes)Herring Gull adult, June 08 2013, Noordwijk, the Netherlands. 
adult argenteus in June. (69220 bytes)Herring Gull adult, June 09 2013, Noordwijk, the Netherlands.