Herring Gull (argentatus & argenteus)

(last update: February 11, 2013)

Herring Gull argenteus BLB H-161236 July 2010 & October 2014, Le Portel, NW France. Picture: Maarten van Kleinwee & Jean-Michel Sauvage.

Ringed as juvenile on June 27 2009 at Zeebrugge, Belgium.

Herring Gull argenteus BLB H-161236 6CY, October 18 2014, Le Portel, NW France. Picture: Jean-Michel Sauvage.

P9 fully grown. P10 at 3/4. PMS=49. White tip on P10 merged with mirror (broken black band), small mirror on P9.

Herring Gull argenteus H-161236 2CY, July 19 2010, Boulogne-sur-Mer, NW France. Picture: Jean-Michel Sauvage.

Second-calendar year Herring Gull, moulting to second-winter plumage. The tertials and all wing coverts are replaced by second-generation feathers, and have a blocked pattern (some still show a buffish-yellow tinge). The rounded tip of a second-generation primary (P7 fully grown) is extruding the tertials and contrasts with the more pointed first-generation P10 which is a faded brown. The base of the bill is pink; the head is light with dark streaks, the eye spot is dark. The breast, underbody and flanks are white with dark barring. The legs are pink.