Presumed Heuglin's Gull L heuglini

Heuglin's Gull - Larus heuglini

1-5: © Visa Rauste, 28-05-06. Tampere, Finland.

Unlike the previous bird, the next five birds in this section are most likely to be confused with Lesser Black-backed Gull rather than Caspian Gull. This is a fine example of a bird that would attract attention in W Europe, as it shows an adult-like pale grey mantle in combination with juvenile wing coverts; this is unlike the western taxa in which those advanced birds which show plain scapulars tend to also have at least some second generation coverts. All scapulars have been replaced for very plain, pale grey feathers (with a hint of blue) showing only a dark shaft streak. Unlike many heuglini, the head of
this bird is rather densely streaked, especially behind the eye and towards the crown. The wing coverts and tertials are juvenile and rather worn for heuglini at this time of year. There is no sign of moult yet, all juvenile primaries (and secondaries) still are present. The inner primaries are all dark except for conspicuous white spots on the inner webs of P2-4. Although the patterns of the outer rectrices resemble second generation feathers, the brownish colour of the central feathers and the lack of obvious white edges indicate that the tail probably still is completely juvenile. The underwing is dark, with finely barred axillaries and coverts.