Mew Gull Larus canus canus; heinei; kamtschatschensis; brachyrhynchus

(last update: March 12, 2012)

Mew Gull canus SVS 7158270 2cy, 03 July 1999, Malmö, Sweden.

Figure 09: 7158270 (349/92,6) one-year old canus (2CY), moulting to second year. Ringed as pullus in 1998 in Malmö. 03 July 1999. Note pale greater coverts, pale greyish inner-webs of the inner primaries and pale grey scapular saddle.

We did not document moult timing, because of difficulties in catching gulls in the summer period. The small number of birds that we managed to trap over the years include two birds (one pale bird and one dark: fig 9 below, fig 10), which moult to second generation plumage. The pale bird (fig 9 below) was ringed as pullus in Malmö and is a certain canus. The dark bird (fig 10) might be a summering heinei. The dramatic differences between first and second year plumages are obvious, in particular considering the worn juvenile feathers.

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.