Steppe Gull - barabensis

(last update: 8-9-2014 )

Images on the right in this page illustrate the moult timing and extent of this species in October. Typically, as a breeding bird of the steppe belt (versus birds from the tundra belt higher north) there is extensive post-juvenile moult in scapulars, but also in wing-coverts and tertials in many birds. Barabensis occur alongside heuglini; barabensis the early hatching species from southern locations. As a result, by October the plumage looks more worn and moult is more extensive.