Heuglin's Gull L heuglini

Heuglin's Gull - Larus heuglini

1-3: © Visa Rauste, 11-06-02. Syktyvkar, Russia.

A very different individual. The wing coverts, tertials, tail and remiges are still juvenile and rather worn, while the second generation scapulars are very well marked. P1 in the left wing has been shed. The crown is slightly streaked and the flanks and underparts show some spotting/blotching. The tail bar is very broad. Even without a proper statistical analysis, it is safe to say that 2cy Heuglin's Gulls like this most likely will go unnoticed in W Europe, because of their similarity to graellsii and intermedius.