Presumed Heuglin's Gull L heuglini

Heuglin's Gull - Larus heuglini

1-3: © Visa Rauste, 28-05-05. Tampere, Finland.

Again a more worn individual. The second generation wing coverts are pale with bold markings; the juvenile feathers have bleached to pale brown. The upper tertials in both wings also have been renewed. All previous individuals in this section showed a complete hand still in May. This bird has commenced the complete moult: P1-2 are missing. Note the pale inner webs of P3-6 creating a "Venetian blind". Despite its pale head and underparts, this would be a very difficult bird to identify in W Europe.