Heuglin's Gull L heuglini

Heuglin's Gull - Larus heuglini

1-2: © Visa Rauste, 13-06-02. Syktyvkar, Russia.

Another individual that would not look too much out of place between 2cy Lesser Black-backed Gulls (also see this bird). The non-juvenile scapulars are rather dark grey with a black shaft streak. Some of the wing coverts show bold anchors but particularly the non-juvenile greater coverts are dark in some light (note that in the open wing they look paler). In both wings, primaries are damaged or broken, but the complete moult has not started yet. It is a much more compact bird than most of the previous examples, again heightening the similarity to intermedius in particular.