Herring Gull- Zilvermeeuw (argentatus & argenteus)

(last update: 24-12-2010)

Home

Herring Gull plumages:

hg 1cy July
hg 1cy August
hg 1cy September
hg 1cy October
hg 1cy November
hg 1cy December

hg 2cy January
hg 2cy February
hg 2cy March
hg 2cy April
hg 2cy May
hg 2cy June
hg 2cy July
hg 2cy August
hg 2cy September
hg 2cy October
hg 2cy November
hg 2cy December

hg 3cy January
hg 3cy February
hg 3cy March
hg 3cy April
hg 3cy May
hg 3cy June
hg 3cy July
hg 3cy August
hg 3cy September
hg 3cy October
hg 3cy November
hg 3cy December

hg sub-ad January
hg sub-ad February
hg sub-ad March
hg sub-ad April
hg sub-ad May
hg sub-ad June
hg sub-ad July
hg sub-ad August
hg sub-ad September
hg sub-ad October
hg sub-ad November
hg sub-ad December

hg ad January
hg ad February
hg ad March
hg ad April
hg ad May
hg ad June
hg ad July
hg ad August
hg ad September
hg ad October
hg ad November
hg ad December

Herring Gull 3cy (argenteus), December 23 2010, IJmuiden, the Netherlands.

Pale grey local bird (probably, not ringed). Mirror on P10, and central primaries typical blackish with well-defined white tips (indication for 3rd gen primaries, instead of 2nd gen). Average plumage for 3cy in this bird, with grey saddle and quite a lot wing-coverts adult-like grey. Strong clues for age often to be found in secondary pattern, which are grey based without large brown centres and without much vermiculation (just visible); and the inner primaries which are adult-like grey with a broad white tip. Primary pattern on P7-P9 (faint tips) probably rules out option of 4cy in December.