Heuglin's Gull (L. heuglini / antelius)
(last update:
Heuglini 2cy, February 06 2008, Morjim Beach, Goa, India. Picture: Tom Tams.
See also Tom's website. Bird with a distinct collar and white head. Scapulars and most visible wing-coverts replaced (except the central and outer greater coverts). All visible flight feathers still juvenile, but not sure if all tail feathers are still present (maybe missing central feathers?). Simple shaft-streak pattern on 2nd gen feathers: silvery grey feathers with single dark shaft streak and sometimes transveral bar near the tip or diamond shape. On location ID-ed as 2cy heuglini, and supported by late moult; but barabensis might be another option.
From the heuglini breeding sites on the Russian tundra, it is about 6.000 km south to reach Goa beach.
Below: estimated breeding distribution of Asian taxa (source: Liebers-Helbig et all, 2010).
