Heuglin's Gull (L. heuglini / antelius)
(last update:
Heuglini 2cy, February 06 2008, Morjim Beach, Goa, India. Picture: Tom Tams.
See also Tom's website. Bird with a distinct collar and white head. Scapulars and most visible wing-coverts replaced (except the central and outer greater coverts and outer median coverts). All visible flight feathers still juvenile (P5-P10, rectrices, central secondaries). Club-pattern on 2nd gen feathers. Note the fresh neat fringes and greyish tone on the centres on the central wing-coverts, indicating late winter moult in this individual. On location ID-ed as 2cy heuglini, and supported by late moult; but barabensis might be another option.
From the heuglini breeding sites on the Russian tundra, it is about 6.000 km south to reach Goa beach.
Below: estimated breeding distribution of Asian taxa (source: Liebers-Helbig et all, 2010).
