Herring Gull- Zilvermeeuw (argentatus & argenteus)(last update: |
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Herring Gull plumages: hg 1cy July hg 2cy January hg 3cy January hg sub-ad January hg ad January |
Herring Gull 3cy (argentatus), March 17 2003, Boulogne/Mer, France (50.43N-01.37E). A 3cy argentatus,
which shows barred patterns and smudgy grey bases 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 individual has replaced some wing-coverts and tertials in the partial autumn moult as 2cy bird. Note the upper two tertials, the inner greater covert, the inner and a few central median coverts and at least 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, but note the fresher fringes when compared to the adjacent abraded feathers. |