Herring Gull- Zilvermeeuw (argentatus & argenteus)

(last update: 7-2-2007)

Herring Gull H-112075 3cy (argenteus), January 05 2002, Le Portel / Boulogne-sur-Mer, France (50.42N,1.34E).

A typical argenteus, ringed Belgium, Bruxelles, ringed as pullus on July 14 2000 at Zeebrugge (51.20N 03.11E). The new scapulars are plain adult-like grey. The bill is typical for 3cy birds in January, pinkish base and a broad bill-band. Note the rather brown second generation primaries lacking the mirror on P10. Compared to Scandinavian argentatus, the general impression resembles argentatus in 4cy, which also show an almost complete grey scapular region and single grey feathers in the tertials, inner greater coverts and a few lesser coverts.
The moult-stage is somewhat difficult to interpret by January. The scapulars are more or less uniform grey with just a few patterned brownish feathers left. Many grey scapulars appear abraded at the fringes already, especially in the upper scapulars.
This Belgian individual has moulted a few tertials and wing-coverts in the partial autumn moult as 2cy bird: tertials #2-3 have been replaced, greater coverts #1-3 have been replaced, median coverts #1-3 and #8-10 have been replaced and lower lesser coverts #6-8 have been replaced. The new feathers have fresh fringes and tips and are more adult-like in their patterns.