Herring Gull - Zilvermeeuw (argentatus & argenteus): sub-adult September

(last update: 22 september 2004)

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Herring Gull sub-adult, September 21 2004, Scheveningen, the Netherlands.

Probably a 4cy argenteus. This bird still shows many immature features on secondaries, tail-feathers and upper lesser coverts. Note the pink-based bill and dark orbital ring. The primary moult score: P7 fully grown, the tip just over P6. Note the greater primary coverts on the old primaries. 

From June (often mid-May in France, Belgium and the Netherlands) to October, a complete moult will bring birds in so-called "sub-adult winter" plumage. A new set of primaries will grow during the summer months and by October, the old primaries are all shed in argenteus in the Netherlands and northern France. In most adults (!), the new primary P6 is just visible beneath the tertials and shows a clear sub-terminal band. By late-September, P6 and P7 are fully-grown as well. At the same time, almost all wing-coverts have been renewed. In summer, the head is still largely white, but by September, most birds develop extensive 'winter streaking', in sub-adults strongly mottled brown contrasting with the white breast as in an executioner's hood. The tertials show obvious white tips. The iris is white-yellow with extensive speckling. The bill has a red gonydeal spot confined to the lower mandible. The orbital ring is yellow-orange in most argenteus, but often dark in autumn.