Larus armenicus adults, 15 October 2010, Maagan Michael, Israel. Picture: Amir Ben Dov.
Adult armenicus at the beach. Bird with no old primaries in the wing: P10 has been dropped as well. This is the final stage of the complete moult. Simultaneously, birds finish the moult in the rectrices and finally the gap in the central secondaries will close as well. Common moult stage by mid October is: P7 fully grown, with no old primaries left.
P8 fully grown, P9 at 60% in length. P10 at 40%. PMS = 46, belongs to group of most advanced adult birds. Gap in central secondaries almost closed, only the last feathers have to grow in again (normally S16-S18; here is seems to be S15 approximately).
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