Heuglin's Gull (L. heuglini / antelius)
(last update:
Heuglini adult, July 14 2003, Tampere, Finland (61.33N 24.59E).
Features suggesting heuglini in these pictures are upper-parts grey-tone. Birds obvious paler than fuscus. Facial expression: slender bill with ill-defined gonydeal angle. General structure suggest female: pot-bellied bird, rounded head, different from the slender and 'elongated' look of fuscus.
Large mirror on P10, on both webs, small mirror on P9. Red spot extends to upper mandible. P1-P10 old, all rectrices and secondaries old as well. Some median and lower lesser coverts are fresh and steel-blue, compared to the slate-grey older wing-coverts.
General structure, especially head-shape and bill, not very reminiscent of cachinnans, which is often a good clue for heuglini. Also, the red gonydeal spot is extensive, well-developed on the upper mandible, which is rare in heuglini. This kind of individuals at Tampere may also represent the paler end of fuscus (so not heuglini), or, considering the pot-bellied, short winged appearance, one may also argue this is the intermedius influence in core fuscus breeding area. Interestingly, in recent years, some ringed pullus within core fuscus area, turned out to be rather pale grey (near)adults.
clouded sky.
in sunny conditions.