Heuglin's Gull (L. heuglini / antelius)
(last update:
Heuglini 3cy, July 12 2003, Tampere, Finland (61.33N 24.59E).
The complete summer moult started recently. P1-P2 are fully grown third generation, P3 is growing, P4-P5 are missing while the outer primaries P6-P10 are still old second generation by mid-July. This individual is much paler grey than fuscus, almost matching local argentatus, (images below) so also much paler than average Swedish intermedius. Rather strong bird, competing with larger argentatus over food, so probably a male. Note the parallel bill, lacking an obvious gonydeal angle, as is often seen in cachinnans.
The tail-feathers are replaced on the wintering grounds, and are adult-like white now. However, R5 on both sides are still old second generation (image below). Together with the new inner primaries, some median coverts, upper tertials, inner greater coverts and some lower lesser coverts have been replaced for more adult-like plain grey feathers. As quite some wing-coverts were replaced already on the wintering grounds as well, there is no ordinary moult sequence (like the sequence in the complete summer moult as seen in other taxa) in this individual, and wing-covert moult progresses in a rather 'jumpy' scheme, leaving those recently replaced feathers out of this moult wave for the moment.
The secondaries are still old second generation.
A more or less similar bird was seen five days later.
