Great Black-backed Gull (Larus marinus)

(last update: July 12, 2015)

Great Black-backed Gull (Larus marinus) sub-adult, February 09 2003, Le Portel / Boulogne-sur-Mer, France (50.42N,1.34E).

In many respects this resembles an immature bird / 3cy, with most of the wing-coverts very barred, the base of the bill pink and an obvious bill-band, but some yellow is already visible near the tip. Note the dark markings in the tail. The tips of the primaries are only very small, and there is only a small white mirror on the outermost primary P10. This is probably a 4cy bird.