Steppe Gull - barabensis

(last update: 8-9-2014 )

Coordinator:
Mars Muusse (Netherlands)

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

heuglini-type 2CY, February 24 2001, Ashkar harbour, Bahrain.

Barabensis class III 1st winter or maybe heuglini.

Elongated wing, high stance, high breast, elongated head profile and long bill point to cachinnans. On average, cachinnans of the race ponticus is slightly paler; whiter on head and under parts (but markings on head and under parts in line with nominate cachinnans?). Most of the wing coverts are still juvenile, with some 2^nd generation feathers, which were moulted last autumn. A few feathers show a grey base in stead of the bleached pale buffish to white base of most of the feathers: e.g. the innermost greater covert, one central median covert and three scapulars. These feathers show anchor or barred patterns. Especially the strong arrow pattern on the inner greater covert is common in cachinnans. Note the growing upper tertial and very fresh inner GC; such late winter moult may also point towards heuglini?