Herring
Gull 2cy (argentatus), August
07 2002,
Tampere,
Finland (61.31N,23.43E).
A very brown "washed out" 2cy argentatus from
Finland, resembling this bird from Poland.
The complete moult is almost
finished with
most wing-coverts and the inner primaries moulted to second generation.
The outermost primaries P9-P10 are still juvenile and P1-P6 are fully
grown second generation flight-feathers. The innermost secondaries are
still juvenile. All tail-feathers are second generation now, with the
outer rectrices still growing.
The tertials and most of the wing-coverts are replaced for second
generation feathers. The last moulted wing-coverts are the outer
lesser coverts. These feathers have a neat fringe. All juvenile scapulars have been
replaced for second generation feathers, including the scapulars in the
lowest row. The upper scapulars and mantle were replaced long ago and
the old second generation feathers look
abraded. A few lower upper scapulars are missing.
By August, the neat fringes of the first moulted
wing-coverts (upper tertials, inner greater coverts and median coverts)
start to wear away. On
average, 2cy argentatus is more contrastingly patterned than same
aged 2cy argenteus, especially regarding the pattern on the inner
and central
greater coverts and the white belly and flanks. However, some argentatus are distinct "washed
out" brown like this individual or show the common vermiculated pattern of 2cy argenteus.
The
last moulted coverts are the central greater coverts and outer lesser coverts, replaced by
mid-August. From mid-August onwards, 2cy argentatus start the partial autumn
moult, starting again to drop the upper tertial and inner greater and
median coverts.
In the table below, the primary moult
scores of 2cy August argentatus in Finland can be read:
2cy argentatus
in August, Tampere landfill, Finland, August 10 2002, 10:00-12:00 h. |
|
P5 new |
P6 new |
P7 new |
P8 new |
total
old: |
P9 old |
1 |
8 |
8 |
- |
17 |
P10 old |
- |
15 |
42 |
2 |
59 |
no old |
- |
- |
59 |
4 |
63 |
total
new: |
1 |
23 |
109 |
6 |
139 |
old
primaries: m = 9.3, SD = 0.69, n = 139.
new primaries: m = 6.9, SD = 0.47, n = 139. |
|