Herring Gull- Zilvermeeuw (argentatus & argenteus)

(last update: 8-2-2007)

Herring Gull 3cy (argenteus), February 07 2002, IJmuiden, the Netherlands (52.27N-04.33E).

A 3cy argenteus with showing brown second generation primaries with rounded tips (unlike the pointed juvenile primaries) which lack a mirror on P10. The second generation tail has a broad dark tail-band and a thin white fringes.
About half of the scapular region consist of old  barred feathers (note the worn fringes) with bleached pale centres and a brown sub-terminal band and shaft-streak. The recently replaced scapulars are largely grey-based with an accentuated shaft-streak. 
This individual has moulted some wing-coverts to third generation feathers in the partial autumn moult as 2cy bird: the two upper tertials have been replaced. The third generation tertials show a grey base with a faint brown wash and a hint of an arrow-head or transversal bar at the tip. The two inner greater coverts were replaced as well and they show the same pattern as the upper tertials. Those new feathers strongly contrast with the barred second generation central and outer greater coverts which are clearly barred white-brown patterned. One inner median coverts has been replaced as well.
The bill is two-toned and the iris is pale.