nominate Lesser Black-backed Gull (L. fuscus)

(last update: 25-6-2006)

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fuscus 1cy August

fuscus 1cy October

fuscus 2cy February

fuscus 2cy July

fuscus 2cy August

fuscus 3cy February

fuscus 3cy July

fuscus 3cy August

fuscus 4cy July

fuscus 4cy August

fuscus ad June

fuscus ad July

fuscus ad August

(2 images) Larus fuscus fuscus / intermedius 2cy, August 04 2002, Stockholm, Sweden.

This bird is different from the 2cy fuscus seen in Finland in several respects. 
First, the very fresh second generation tail-feathers show a prominent white tip and the tail-feathers were most probably moulted after arrival in Scandinavia. In the short period we visited Stockholm and Tampere, no other 2cy fuscus shared this feature.
This 2cy bird is in active primary moult at p8. The second generation p8 is at the same length as p7 and p10 is still juvenile, but obviously not as abraded as seen in fuscus from Finland in the same week, as seen here or here. This bird may have spend the winter period at another location.

In other respects its plumage is in line with 2cy fuscus as it shows plain dark second generation scapulars and wing-coverts, which are now bleached paler brown by August. The median covert bar is in active moult with third generation dark grey, blackish feathers growing in. However this plumage can be found in intermedius as well. A few lower scapulars are missing and the oldest scapulars are very pale brown now.

Have a look at the August LBBG Section to find the tail-feather moult and primary moult in graellsii / intermedius.