Herring Gull - Zilvermeeuw (argentatus & argenteus)

(last update: 07 april 2004)

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Herring Gull adult (argenteus), April 15 2001, IJmuiden, the Netherlands (52.27N-04.33E).

Probably an adult male (upper image) and an adult female (lower image). Note the colour of the orbital rings. The bill has no black markings. The orbital ring is yellow-orange. The legs are whitish flesh coloured.

Already by the second week of February, at least 25% of adult argenteus from the Netherlands are in active moult on the head. This is often obvious in the feathers around the eye, which are shed by the second week of February, leaving a naked ring around the eye (visible at close range). Last years (2000-2003) winters have been very mild, with many adult argenteus back in the colonies by early February in the Netherlands (north to 53° latitude).