Mew Gull Larus canus canus; heinei; kamtschatschensis; brachyrhynchus

(last update: March 12, 2012)

Mew Gull canus 2cy, January 30 2011, Westerpark - Amsterdam, The Netherlands. Picture: Maarten van Kleinwee.

Second-calendar year Mew Gull in first-winter plumage (first cycle, pre-alternate moult), but with only few mantle and scapulars moulted to gray, second-generation feathers. All other wing feathers are brown, first-generation feathers. These are heavily bleached, except the group of outer lesser and median coverts which are normally protected by the flank feathers when the gull is at rest, but which are now visible. Note that these look much darker colored with even fringes.