Heuglin's Gull (L. heuglini / antelius)
(last update:
Heuglini adult, February 02-09 2009, United Arab Emirates. Picture: Chris Gibbins.
Bird at the fish-market. By February, adult birds are often still replacing the outer primaries P9-P10; or, when moult is finished, these primaries look perfectly fresh at the tips. Grey tone is often difficult to determine (especially in bright sunny conditions), but look for comparison to other adults in the pictures, which are either cachinnans or barabensis (rather easily told apart by jizz).
In this bird, P8 fully grown, P9 at the length of P7. Iris speckled & clouded, and bill dull coloured. Legs almost flesh-coloured, only faint yellow tone. Black marking restricted to lower mandible. Head streaking concentrated in hind-neck, but also on crown. P4 with complete black band.
