Herring Gull- Zilvermeeuw (argentatus & argenteus)

(last update: 20-2-2007)

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Herring Gull plumages:

hg 1cy July
hg 1cy August
hg 1cy September
hg 1cy October
hg 1cy November
hg 1cy December

hg 2cy January
hg 2cy February
hg 2cy March
hg 2cy April
hg 2cy May
hg 2cy June
hg 2cy July
hg 2cy August
hg 2cy September
hg 2cy October
hg 2cy November
hg 2cy December

hg 3cy January
hg 3cy February
hg 3cy March
hg 3cy April
hg 3cy May
hg 3cy June
hg 3cy July
hg 3cy August
hg 3cy September
hg 3cy October
hg 3cy November
hg 3cy December

hg sub-ad January
hg sub-ad February
hg sub-ad March
hg sub-ad April
hg sub-ad May
hg sub-ad June
hg sub-ad July
hg sub-ad August
hg sub-ad September
hg sub-ad October
hg sub-ad November
hg sub-ad December

hg ad January
hg ad February
hg ad March
hg ad April
hg ad May
hg ad June
hg ad July
hg ad August
hg ad September
hg ad October
hg ad November
hg ad December

Herring Gull 3cy (argenteus), May 17 2002, Boulogne-sur-Mer, France (50.42N,1.34E).

This 3cy argenteus shows the ordinary features for argenteus in May: The scapulars create an all-grey saddle. It strongly contrasts with the brown-white chequered wing-coverts and dark centred tertials.The second generation primaries are bleached brown without white tips and lack a mirror on P10. The second generation tail has a broad dark tail-band.

3cy argenteus has a partial moult in spring. It starts in January and is completed by April, leaving birds in so-called "second summer" plumage. The head turns white, especially on throat, breast and belly. By April, the scapulars and mantle will show many adult-like grey feathers, often creating a contrasting "grey saddle", as most of the wing-coverts (especially the lesser coverts) are still barred. The old second generation wing-coverts start to fade and the fringes wear off. 
The iris and base of the bill turn pale yellow, although some individuals show a warm amber iris. The bill shows some red on the gonydeal angle and it still shows an obvious dark bill-band.
This bird is still not in complete summer plumage with the head and lower neck extensively streaked.

This bird included the tertials #2-3 in last autumn's partial moult. A Some inner greater coverts, median and lower lesser coverts were moulted to third generation feathers as well. Those third generation wing-coverts are hard to recognize by May, as the patterns are very similar to the second generation feathers and the feathers are very worn. Note however that the feathers moulted last, are more adult-like in their general appearance, showing a grey base. The tertials are adult-like grey, but are worn at the tips and fringes.