Herring Gull - Zilvermeeuw (argentatus & argenteus): sub-adult November

(last update: 07 april 2004)

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Herring Gull sub-adult AYARNovember 16 2002, Westkapelle, the Netherlands (51.33N-03.25E). 

A sub-adult from the Belgian colour-ring program, ringed blue AYAR. Note the relatively small white tips on the two outermost primaries and the brown-grey primary coverts. The primaries show well-defined small white tip in this individual, clearly demarcated from the black area. P5 has a broad square black sub-terminal marking confined to the outer-web. The division between grey and black is sharply defined, unlike the gradual dissolving black found in many northern Scandinavian argentatus.

From June to October, sub-adult Herring Gull have a complete moult to so-called "winter plumage". As long as the old outer third generation primaries are visible (until August), ageing as 4cy is rather straightforward. From November onwards, 4cy birds much resemble adult birds, except that the bare parts still show immature features: the black bill-band is obvious, extending over both upper and lower mandible. On average, this plumage develops a more pronounced winter 'hood' than in full adults: dense streaking on head, especially around the eye and in the hind-neck. The upper-parts, wing-coverts and tertials appear adult-like grey from 4cy October onwards. The fourth generation tail-feathers are plain white. 
The new fourth generation primaries are similar to the adult primaries, although the primary tips may appear slightly smaller, but otherwise similar in pattern: grey inner-wing and black outer-wing. Both P9 and P10 show a mirror. P5 shows small black sub-terminal markings in argenteus, concentrated on the outer-web as a clear-cut black angular spot and rarely extending on the inner-web as a diffuse streak. There may be some black on P4 as well. Adult argenteus show a different pattern in the outer primaries, compared to northern argentatus. In argentatus, especially from northern Scandinavia, the black marking on P5 is very limited and diffuse or this is sub-terminal markings are completely lacking on P5. 
Argenteus
has more black in the outer primaries, including a black band on the top of p10 in most birds, dividing the tip from the mirror. If the black sub-terminal band on P10 is broken, the outer-web of p10 still shows black marking. Argentatus normally lacks sub-terminal markings on the outer-web of P10. 
The scapular coverts are plain grey, lacking white crescents. The tertials show obvious white tips. The iris is yellow. The bill is yellow with a red gonydeal spot confined to the lower mandible. The orbital ring is yellow-orange or orange-red. The legs are flesh-pink.