Presumed Heuglin's Gull L heuglini

Heuglin's Gull - Larus heuglini

1-5: © Visa Rauste, 29-04-06. Tampere, Finland.

Most of the previous birds showed either plain grey scapulars or wing coverts with just a dark shaft streak or with bold markings. This strongly built bird has a remarkably fresh plumage, not only the second generation feathers, but the juvenile feathers (remiges, rectrices) as well. The second generation feathers have a white to pale grey base colour with obvious anchor patterns. If it had not been photographed at the end of April as a 2cy, one would have been forgiven if Yellow-legged Gull had been considered as an option, especially with a tail bar like this. Of course, the plumage of Yellow-legged Gulls does not look this fresh anymore by April and the base colour of, e.g., the inner greater coverts is too dark grey for this species (fresh feathers in YLG are more buff-tinted). The juvenile greater coverts are strongly barred, like in Herring Gull. The axillaries and underwing coverts are white with limited dark barring, so these too resemble those of Herring Gull. The inner primaries show a white spot on the inner webs near the tip of the feather plus an apical spot on the outer web.