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 inner wing-coverts replaced (except the central greater coverts. All visible flight feathers still juvenile (P8 probably covering P7-P6; if not, moult in central primaries). Club-pattern on 2nd gen feathers. Bird slightly different from most other individuals: central greater coverts very worn and 2nd gen coverts not extremely fresh. Late moult (fresh coverts in February) would indicate 2cy heuglini; here, barabensis could well 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).
