Candidate Heuglin's Gull L heuglini

Heuglin's Gull - Larus heuglini

1-2: © Ruud Altenburg, 20-05-06; 3-4: © Jan den Hartog, 28-05-06; 5: © Harm Niesen, 28-05-06. Amsterdam, Netherlands.

This 2cy gull shows a set of characters that is uncommon for western Lesser Black-backed Gulls. Most conspicuous (but by no means exclusive) is the combination of a yellow bill with mostly juvenile wing coverts, tail feathers, primaries and secondaries. The combination of a pale head with long bill, streaking in the hindneck, pale underparts, long tibia, pale second generation scapulars with reduced anchor patterns and pale inner webs to the inner primaries all remind of Caspian Gull. Also note the finely barred axillaries and apical spot on P3. For more pictures and information about this bird, please see Ruud Altenburg's site.

Although this individual has an appearance much different from the average Lesser Black-backed Gull, it also does not closely resemble most Heuglin's Gulls and therefore it should probably not be considered a very serious candidate heuglini. If you have photographs of a ringed 2cy Lesser Black-backed Gull similar to this individual, please contact the authors.