Herring Gull- Zilvermeeuw (argentatus & argenteus)

(last update: 8-2-2007)

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 (argentatus), February 09 2003, Boulogne/Mer, France (50.43N-01.37E).

A 3cy argentatus, which shows anchor patterns on most of the new third generation upper scapulars. Those feathers are plain adult-like grey in most argenteus by February (creating a grey saddle in advanced birds), but they strongly resemble second generation feathers in most argentatus. Consequently, 3cy argentatus may look very delayed in their moult, compared to argenteus in mixed groups and they can sometimes be mistaken for 2cy birds. 
This very powerful and dominant male 3cy argentatus has rather contrasting and delicately patterned second generation greater coverts, a feature often found in argentatus. Argenteus often show a more vermiculated pattern on the central greater coverts.
Note the primaries with rounded tips, clearly second generation feathers and unlike the pointed juvenile remiges.Argentatus may show a strong contrast between pale inner primaries and dark outer primaries and the 'window' created by these pale inner primaries is very obvious.

This individual has replaced some wing-coverts and tertials in the partial autumn moult as 2cy bird. Note the upper two tertials, the inner two greater coverts, the inner three median coverts and one lower lesser covert; all replaced in the partial moult last autumn. The pattern of these new feathers is very reminiscent of the older second generation feathers.