Lesser Black-backed Gull L f intermedius

Lesser Black-backed Gull - Larus fuscus intermedius

1-2: © Mars Muusse, 18-06-02. Maasvlakte, Rotterdam, Netherlands.

Blue JXU7 is from Rauna (58.03 N, 06.40 E), so from the S Norwegian intermedius population. It shows a jizz typical for some intermedius and many fuscus: the legs are distinctly short and in general it is a small, pot-bellied and 'neck-less' individual. The visible primaries still are juvenile and probably the secondaries are too. All tail feathers have been renewed, except for the right R5, which has a brown rather than black tip (plate 2). Most of the wing-coverts and tertials were moulted in one wave, as most of these feathers have a similar degree of wear in the fringes. Such a moult strategy on the wintering grounds can be found in heuglini as well and must be common in fuscus.