Larus cachinnans

(last update: February 16, 2013)

Coordinator:
Greg Neubauer
Marcin Przymencki
Albert de Jong
Mars Muusse

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cachinnans plumages

Larus argentatus sensu lato P406 adult, April 20 2012 & January - February 2013, Wytyckie Lake - Urszulin, Poland & Amsterdam & Barneveld, the Netherlands.

Green P406 and metal DN27306. Bird ringed as breeding adult male at the nest on April 20 2012 at Urszulin Lubelskie, Poland. For 2012, breeding location of 150 pairs cachinnans, of which 54 adults ringed and 158 pulli in 2012 (pers comm. Łukasz Bednarz). It is assumed that this population does not consist of pure cachinnans only; some hybridisation may occur, therefore the ringing centre in Poland decided to label difficult birds as "Larus argentatus sensu lato". Still bulk of the breeding birds in Wytyckie Lake show features of cachinnans.

Please visit Łukasz's BLOG for beautiful drawings and up-to-date gull news from eastern Poland: Wildlife art and illustration

below: Larus argentatus sensu lato P406 adult, April 20 2012, Wytyckie Lake - Urszulin, Poland. Picture: Łukasz Bednarz ringing team.

Breeding bird trapped at the nest. Adult male, a bulky beast, and therefore in proportions resembling argentatus; but probably within limits for pure cachinnans. Head shape in adult male cachinnans highly variable, but especially in this bird suggesting influence of argentatus.
Limited speckling in iris. Red orbital ring and gape. No red on upper mandible; black on the upper and black on the lower mandible. Pale yellow legs.
Deep white tongue on P10, broken black band on P5; no black spot on P4. P1 still present, PMS=0.

below: Larus argentatus sensu lato P406 adult, February 18 2013, Barneveld, the Netherlands. Picture: Herman Bouman.

Albatros pose when aggitated.

below: Larus argentatus sensu lato P406 adult, January 06 2013, Amsterdam, the Netherlands. Picture: E. Schuller.

below: Larus argentatus sensu lato P406 adult, January 08 2013, Barneveld, the Netherlands. Picture: Maarten van Kleinwee.

Note angular head shape.