Mew Gull Larus canus canus; heinei; kamtschatschensis; brachyrhynchus

(last update: March 12, 2012)

Mew Gull heinei SVS 7144564 1cy, 08 November 1996, Malmö, Sweden.

Figure 02: 7144564 (0/94,5) early winter but still juvenile plumage, probable heinei (1CY), 08 November 1996. Note dark centred greater coverts.

The size and pattern of the black tail-band varies and pattern on upper-tail coverts show variation in intensity. Some individuals have the upper-tail coverts completely white, while others have more or less obvious spots. Our data indicate both canus and heinei can have white or spotted upper-tail coverts, and both races also vary a lot in tail-band pattern (see canus with white and spotted coverts in fig 1, fig 5 and fig 7). Still, we suspect that really heavy spotting on upper-tail coverts in an indication for heinei (see fig 2 below).

Figure from:
Is it possible to age subadult Mew Gulls Larus canus?
by: Kenneth Bengtsson & Lennarth Blomquist, publication in: Anser 2-42(2003): p 73-92.