Lesser Black-backed Gull (graellsii & intermedius)

(last update: 22-2-2011)

Lesser Black-backed Gull intermedius SVS 8074722 3CY, October 02 2003, IJmuiden, the Netherlands.

3cy LBBG ringed 8074722 Stockholm Sweden, ringed as pullus on 19 June 2001 at Onsala, Halland, SW Sweden (57.18N 11.54E).

Arrested moult in the primaries: P9-P10 are still second generation, very abraded and bleached. Last winter, the inner primaries have been moulted to third generation and this moult wave finished at P8. Still, P6-P8 are present and slightly bleached. This summer, primary moulted was started again at P1. By October, P4 is fully grown and P5 is missing. Those inner primaries are fourth generation now, showing a typical adult-like pattern.

The tail-feathers are a mix of completely white feathers and typical second generation-like feathers showing a broad black sub-terminal band. In the left side: R1-R3 with black band, R4-R5 are white, R6 with black band. In the right side: R1-R3 with black band, R4 white, R5 with black band, R6 almost white with small black spots. The secondaries in the left wing are all present, worn third generation-like feathers. In the right wing the secondaries are third generation-like as well, except one inner secondary (app S20) which is bleached brown and older.

This bird has a pale yellow bill with the red gonydeal spot confined to the lower mandible and there is black on both mandibles. The iris is white-yellow with dark speckling. The legs are still pinkish and the orbital ring is dark red. Note the fine head-streaking concentrated in the lower hind-neck.