Steppe Gull - barabensis

(last update: 8-9-2014 )

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barabensis 1CY July
barabensis 1CY Aug
barabensis 1CY Oct
barabensis 1CY Nov

barabensis 2CY Jan
barabensis 2CY Febr
barabensis 2CY March
barabensis 2CY July
barabensis 2CY Nov

barabensis 3CY June
barabensis 3CY Nov

barabensis sub-ad Jan
barabensis sub-ad June
barabensis sub-ad Nov

barabensis ad Jan
barabensis ad March
barabensis ad May
barabensis ad June
barabensis ad July
barabensis ad Nov
barabensis ad Dec

Steppe Gull barabensis 2CY, February 27 2001, Manama harbour, Bahrain.

Barabensis class I 1st winter. Two pictures of the same individual. Although in some cases very abraded, most barabensis do not moult their wing coverts. Herring Gulls in western Europe may look the same sometimes, but in mid-summer. So Herring Gulls are hampered in flight for only a brief period, where these barabensis are facing inefficiency for a much longer period, if they don't moult their coverts in the partial wing covert moult in spring. This is a nice example of what severe desert conditions can do to feathers. Remember, this was only winter, the cold period in Bahrain.