Heuglin's Gull (L. heuglini / antelius)

(last update: 6-3-2011)

2cy heuglini: April

General description of 2cy heuglini in April in Finland

Upper-parts in 2cy heuglini: most of the scapulars and mantle were moulted to second generation feathers on the wintering grounds in mid-winter. These may show a pronounced anchor pattern, but in typical 2cy heuglini the pattern is reduced to a silvery grey brown base with a black centre and black shaft. Many birds had moult in the wing-coverts only a month ago just prior to migration (upper tertials, inner greater, most median and lower lesser and randomly lesser coverts). As these feathers were replaced only recently, they normally are very fresh and neat along the fringes.

Tail may be either juvenile, or completely replaced by second generation rectrices. If replaced, rectrices pretty fresh (moulted in late-winter).

Typical heuglini may moult (random) secondaries, some birds may even replace all of the secondaries. Retarded birds normally have the secondaries juvenile, and if so, the tail is normally juvenile as well and wing-covert moult was limited.

Primaries are all brown-black, still juvenile in most birds, but a sample by Visa Rauste from N Russia in June and the birds scored by Hannu Koskinen & Markkhu Kangasniemi showed quite some birds with replaced primaries (few of the feathers, but occasionally all primaries replaced).