Primary Moult Scores (PMS) in sub-adult armenicus

On 27 August 2010, Larus armenicus were checked at Bet Shean Valley, Israel by Amir Ben Dov. About 350 gulls were present at Harod Valley and about 250 at Bet Shean Valley (Neve Eitan). Interestly, about 80% of the inland gulls were in adult plumage at this date (27 Aug 2010), while only 20% were adults at the location at the coast, in Maagan Michael on 18 and 24 August 2010. At Bet Shean, 30 birds were examined carefully for their primary moult stage, see the table below. The most common patterns for adult birds were P4/P8 in 5 birds, P3/P7 in 6 birds, P4/P7 in 5 birds.

Moult scores in sub-adult L. armenicus at Bet Shean, 27 August 2010:

P4/P8 (P5=70%, PMS = 27+)
P7/P9 (P8=50%, PMS = 38)

.