Mew Gull Larus canus canus; heinei; kamtschatschensis; brachyrhynchus

(last update: March 12, 2012)

Mew Gull heinei SVS 7146691 2cy, 11 June 1996, Spillepeng, Sweden.

Figure 10: 7146691 (0/0) probable heinei moulting to second year (2CY), Spillepeng, 11 June 1996. Note dark brown greater coverts, chocolate brown inner primaries and darkish 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, fig 10 below), which moult to second generation plumage. The pale bird (fig 9) was ringed as pullus in Malmö and is a certain canus. The dark bird (fig 10 below) 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.