Lesser Black-backed Gull (graellsii & intermedius)

(last update: 3-1-2011)

Lesser Black-backed Gull intermedius J369N 2CY, May - September 2016, Utrecht, the Netherlands.

Ringed as 1CY bird in september in southern Norway by Sindre Molværsmyr. Info:

CR-Code Black ring with white code: J369N LBM;RBNW(J369N)
Ringing Centre Stavanger Museum (Norway) Ring number 4274485
Species Lesser Black-backed Gull  Larus fuscus
Sex Male Age 1 cy

below: Lesser Black-backed Gull intermedius J369N 2CY, May 27 2016, Utrecht, the Netherlands.

Extensive late-winter moult occurs more commonly in intermedius than it does in graellsii. This bird J369N is a nice illustration. All scaps replaced, and also nearly all the visible wing-coverts replaced for 2nd gen feathers in this resting bird. In the spread wing it shows that the last outermost coverts are still juvenile (like 5x outermost GC, single MC and few LC). All 6 tertials and all 6 pairs of tail-feathers replaced for 2nd gen, but secondaries and primaries still juvenile (except for 1x central secondary in left wing, but none in the right wing).

Complete moult not started yet.

below: Lesser Black-backed Gull intermedius J369N 2CY, July 20 2016, Utrecht, the Netherlands.

Complete moult started: P1-P4 fully grown (P1-P2 bad condition), P5 growing, P6-P7 missing, P8-P10 old juvenile. Outer and central secondaries dropped, except for the one feather that was already renewed in winter! All rectrices, which were also renewed in winter, still present. Outer GC, which were retained juvenile, now replaced for fresh 2nd gen coverts; MC now moulting to 3rd gen, again showing barred pattern.

below: Lesser Black-backed Gull intermedius J369N 2CY, September 03 2016, Utrecht, the Netherlands.

Complete moult ending: P7/-. R1-R4 dropped again, now moulting to 3rd gen tail-feathers.

below: Lesser Black-backed Gull intermedius J369N 2CY, September 09 2016, Utrecht, the Netherlands.

And now R6 has been shed too, only R5 retained 2nd gen.

below: Lesser Black-backed Gull intermedius J369N 2CY, October 13 2016, Utrecht, the Netherlands.

PMS=39. R1-R4,R6 now moulted to 3rd gen tail-feathers. R5 retained 2nd gen.