Great Black-backed Gull (Larus marinus)

(last update: July 12, 2015)

Great Black-backed Gull (Larus marinus) 2cy: May 16 2002, Le Portel - Boulogne sur Mer, France (50.42 N - 01.34 E).

Primaries p1 and p2 have been replaced for second generation primaries. Note the fresh arrow head pattern on these inner primaries. This bird is actively moulting the median coverts.

By April, all the primaries are still juvenile, but from May onwards, primary moult starts rapidly and in May and June, Great Black-backed Gull is the most advanced moulting large gull on continental NW Europe (at least NW France - the Netherlands). 3cy GBBG are early moulting as well. May 06 2002 a colour-ringed GBBG in 3cy was recorded at Maasvlakte, the Netherlands (51.59 N - 04.01E). JZR4 was ringed as nestling on June 25 2000 at Herreholmen, Lyngdal, Vest-Agder, Norway (58.02N,06.57E). May 06, the primary moult score was p1 missing and tail-feather moult had started with R1-2 old, R3 missing and the outer rectrices new. A small survey on 2cy GBBG's at Le Portel / Boulogne-sur-Mer in NW France showed nicely the advanced moult in the primaries: