Gulls in NW Europe
(last update: September 25, 2011
Herring Gull 2cy H-1612xx (argenteus) September 24 2010, Westkapelle, the Netherlands. Pictures: Maarten van Kleinwee.
Ringed in Belgium.
Second-calendar year Herring Gull, moulting to second-winter plumage (second cycle, second prebasic moult). All primaries have been replaced, P10 is almost fully grown. Moult in the secondaries is still ongoing. Note the broad dark band on the tail and the light outer web of the outer tail feather T6. A few scapulars have been replaced by adult-looking gray feathers. The iris is dark, the base of the bill pale pink.
