Mew Gull Larus canus canus; heinei; kamtschatschensis; brachyrhynchus

(last update: March 12, 2012)

Mew Gull heinei SVS 7118306 5cy/9cy, 19 November 1995 & 09 January 1999, Malmö, Sweden.

First image is figure 25: 7118306 (374/97,4) five-year old male (5CY), probable heinei, with black on 8 primaries. 19 November 1995. Originally ringed 14 November 1991. Compare to fig 31, for 8-year old plumage.

In the data set of 12 five-year old birds, five have three mirrors. The majority of the birds have black on six primaries but the range is 5-8. The only bird which shows black on P3 is depicted in fig 25 (below). The black alula is not a safe criterion to age three-year old birds, as it still present in one five-year old bird as well (see fig 26).

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.

Below is figure 31: 7118306 (374/97,4) eight-year old male (9CY), probable heinei, 09 January 1999. Originally ringed 14 November 1991.
Same bird as in fig 25; now showing less black in wing-tip. Now, in eight-year plumage this bird has lost the marking on P3 and shows reduced markings on P4. Otherwise both plumages remained rather similar, despite three years of age difference.