Larus armenicus 4cy, 18 August 2010, Maagan Michael, Israel. Picture: Amir Ben Dov.
Bird is aged by the combination of mirror on P10, adult-like P7 pattern, secondaries all >2g (believed to be 3rd generation, but at least older than 2nd generation) & completely white tail. Bird in active complete moult. P3 fully grown, P4 almost as long as P3, P7-P10 still old (score P3/P7). New feathers in wing coverts, mantle and scapulars adult-like grey, while the inner graeter coverts (which are still old), show a brown hue. This individual follows the common moult sequence in large gulls, with the median covert row now growing (new feathers pale silvery grey) and the central and outer greater coverts missing, exposing the secondaries underneath.

|