Herring Gull (argentatus & argenteus)

(last update: February 11, 2013)

Slaty-backed Gull schistisagus adult, January 27 2011, Beijing. Picture: Terry Townshend.

Upperparts tone paler than Great Black-backed Gull, and this taxon has much more black in the wingtip, in this individual just a medium-sized mirror on the outer primary P10 (and full sub-terminal band) and no mirror on P9 (but this is also for Slaty-backed not much white). Note white indents into grey on P1-P3 tips and note black on P10 runs back to greater primary coverts along outer edge, with paler innerweb. Large white tips on tertials and secondaries. String of pearls (white tongue tips) on P6-P7.