Presumed Heuglin's Gull L heuglini

Heuglin's Gull - Larus heuglini

1-4: © Visa Rauste, 28-05-06. Tampere, Finland.

A darker bird than the previous one, but with a comparable moult stage. The scapulars show a mix of worn pale brown and fresher pale (bluish) grey feathers. The same type of feathers are found in the wing coverts, which also contain some retained juvenile lesser coverts. It looks like many of the median coverts and the inner greater coverts in the right wing were replaced early in winter (in Europe still?) and the remainder some months later. The second generation tail feathers show reduced black markings.