Great Black-backed Gull (Larus marinus)

(last update: July 12, 2015)

Great Black-backed Gull (Larus marinus) DKC 3M-3206 2cy, March - May 2015, IJmuiden, the Netherlands.

Metal DKC 3M-3206, ringed as pullus on July 12 2014 at Hirsholm, Frederikshavn, Denmark (57° 29' 36 10° 36' 15). Present in IJmuiden harbour March - May 2015.

below: Great Black-backed Gull (Larus marinus) DKC 3M-3206 2cy, March 02 2015, IJmuiden, the Netherlands.

US: 100%, LS: 75-99%, TOT SCAPS: 75-99%. Coverts and tertials juvenile.

below: Great Black-backed Gull (Larus marinus) DKC 3M-3206 2cy, March 17 2015, IJmuiden, the Netherlands.

below: Great Black-backed Gull (Larus marinus) DKC 3M-3206 2cy, April 12 2015, IJmuiden, the Netherlands. Picture: Jan Zorgdrager.

Already P1-P2 growing by mid-April, really Speedy Gonzalez.

below: Great Black-backed Gull (Larus marinus) DKC 3M-3206 2cy, May 27 2015, IJmuiden, the Netherlands.

Great Black-backed Gull in Europe is more or less associated with northern lattitudes, Scandinavia, relatively late breeding season (compared to birds in western Europe). Therefor it is surprising to see the very fast moult scheme this taxon shows, in many 2CY birds even faster than e.g. Yellow-legged Gull michahellis from France. This Danish 3M-3206 is an illustrative example: today in late May P5 already over P4 in length and only juvenile P8-P10 (PMS=28).