Herring Gull (argentatus & argenteus)

(last update: February 11, 2013)

Herring Gull 3CY, July 09 2013, Katwijk, the Netherlands.

Secondaries and tail still old second generation; secondaries with extensive brown centre and vermiculation, tail with much distal black and proximal vermiculation. Active moult in primaries (complete moult in summer months): P5/P8. Many coverts renewed. Many coverts renewed. Missing central greater coverts expose base on secondaries lying underneath. Note greater covert row have two moult waves, one starting at outer feathers and another from inside; little group of central GC (probably GC6-GC9) still not shed in this bird.