Heuglin's Gull (L. heuglini / antelius)
(last update:
Heuglini 4cy, February 26 2001, Bahrain: Ashkar.
In this heuglini the vicious look is obvious. The bill is not droopy in this bird but the straight pale yellow bill without a clear gonydeal angle might recall cachinnans. Note again the rather square head. The black bill-band is obvious, the bill is yellow and the primary tips are only small. P10 shows a white mirror. Probably this is a 4cy bird, though there is a complete white tail and lack of any clear 3cy winter feathers (so 5cy winter birds are not completely ruled out). Winter streaking is still visible in the lower neck and the fluffy feathers in the neck might suggest moult of the head is still continuing. At close examination, some of the median and greater coverts appear new, slaty grey. Other feathers are worn, but may be of the same generation. The tail looks neat white and the primaries are jet-black with very small tips (which seem brand new!), illustrative for the late moulting schedule of heuglini.
