Herring Gull- Zilvermeeuw (argentatus & argenteus)

(last update: 5-2-2010)

Herring Gull 3cy & 6cy 5.352.670 (argenteus), August 2003 & 2006, IJmuiden, the Netherlands (52.27N - 04.33E).

A bird with a Dutch ring: Arnhem 5.352.670. It was ringed as pullus on June 05 2001 at IJmuiden, the Netherlands.

below: 3cy 5.352.670 (argenteus), August 28 2003, IJmuiden, the Netherlands (52.27N - 04.33E).

Primaries P1-P6 are fully grown, P9-P10 are still old second generation. P10 has no white mirror. The wing-coverts and tertials which were replaced first in the complete moult have a more immature pattern (barred) than those coverts moulted later. However, most of the grey wing-coverts show an obvious brown hue. One outer tail-feather is still old, second generation. All other rectrices have been shed and new third generation tail-feathers are growing in. Secondary moult has started as well: S1-S3 are missing in this bird.

From June to October, a complete moult will bring 3cy argenteus in so-called "third winter" plumage. By October, when the complete moult is finished, the head will show extensive 'winter streaking', mottled brown contrasting with the white breast as in an executioner's hood. The scapulars and mantle are pale adult-like grey.
By the end of the complete moult (October), all wing-coverts have been replaced, most to plain grey feathers. Immature patterns can often be found in the lower tertials, greater coverts and outer lesser coverts (the carpal edge).
During the summer, the primaries are moulted to third generation. The first inner primaries are dropped by late May and the outer primary P10 will be dropped by late August. The primary moult is completed by late-October in argenteus, when the new outer primary P10 is fully grown. The third generation primaries are clearly adult-like, with the inner primaries P1-P4 plain grey with a white tip. The outer-wing shows a clear black triangle, extending on the greater primary coverts. From P4 outwards, the primaries show a black sub-terminal band. The white primary tips are obvious in the inner primaries, but often smaller on P9 and P10. P10 has a small white mirror (lacking in some birds). The new tail-feathers will be white, with clear immature black markings. The iris is pale brown-yellow.

below: 6cy 5.352.670 (argenteus), August 12 2006, IJmuiden, the Netherlands (52.27N - 04.33E).

P7-P10 old.