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 28 2001, Manama harbour, Bahrain.

Barabensis class II 1st winter.

The very white appearance on head and under-parts together with the pale grey base tone of upper-parts seems to fit the Steppe types of gulls (barabensis, cachinnans) better than the Tundra types (fuscus, heuglini). The innermost greater and median coverts were already moulted earlier this winter and the grey centres have become white already in the innermost median coverts. In these innermost medians the pattern is nicely visible as thin bars, the lowest transverse line (the sub-terminal bar) as in an anchor pattern. This individual continued moult outwards and the central medians and next greater coverts show a grey base and a neat white fringe in the very fresh feathers. In the scapulars, the top half of the feathers has become pale as well and the anchor patterns are just still present, but the fringes are worn away. Here, the upper tertials are moulted as well. Note the very bleached outer wing coverts, which are still juvenile.