Herring
Gull 2cy (argentatus),
July 14 2003,
Tampere,
Finland (61.31N,
23.43E).
A 2cy argentatus. Very delayed in
wing-covert and primary moult. P7-P10 are still juvenile. Most of the
wing-coverts are still juvenile, except the outer median coverts, the
innermost greater coverts, innermost lower lesser coverts and upper
tertials.
By July, the warm brown tones of the first moulted
second generation feathers
(inner greater coverts and inner median coverts) are faded to
plain white, leaving a contrasting barred pattern on the wing-coverts. On
average, 2cy argentatus is more contrastingly patterned than same
aged 2cy argenteus, especially regarding the pattern on the central
greater coverts. However, some argentatus are distinct "washed
out" brown, showing 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 tables below, the primary moult
scores of 2cy July argentatus in Finland can be read:
Primary
moult score of 2cy argentatus Herring Gull, at Tampere
landfill, Finland (61.33N,
23.59E) on July 10 2003. |
. |
P4
fg |
P5
fg |
P6
fg |
P7
fg |
?
fg |
n: |
P6-P10 |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
P7-P10 |
5 |
4 |
- |
- |
6 |
15 |
P8-P10 |
1 |
54 |
6 |
- |
13 |
74 |
P9-P10 |
- |
11 |
34 |
- |
2 |
47 |
P10
old |
- |
- |
1 |
1 |
- |
2 |
n: |
6 |
69 |
41 |
1 |
21 |
138 |
n
= 138; m old P = 2.7; SD old P = 0.67.
Survey at Tampere, landfill, in resting group at 'the saddle',
about 200 2cy Herring Gulls, probably 100% argentatus.
P6-P10 = P6-P10 are still old and present.
? fg = fully grown not known. Fully grown primary score most
probably P6 or less.
fg = fully grown. In our field surveys, a primary is 'fully
grown' when it exceeds the previous feather in the folded
wing. Actually, such 'fully grown' feathers may have to
grow a little, but under field circumstances, it's very
difficult to find out if the waxy sheath, which is the
standard measurement for fully grown primaries, is still
present. |
Primary
moult score of 2cy argentatus Herring Gull, at Tampere
landfill, Finland (61.33N,
23.59E) on July 13 2003, 15:00 h. |
. |
P4
fg |
P5
fg |
P6
fg |
P7
fg |
?
fg |
n: |
P6-P10 |
- |
- |
- |
- |
1 |
1 |
P7-P10 |
2 |
- |
- |
- |
4 |
6 |
P8-P10 |
- |
26 |
6 |
- |
18 |
50 |
P9-P10 |
- |
20 |
52 |
1 |
5 |
78 |
P10
old |
- |
- |
5 |
3 |
- |
8 |
n: |
2 |
46 |
63 |
4 |
28 |
143 |
n
= 143; m old P = 2.4; SD old P = 0.69.
Survey at Tampere, landfill, in resting group at 'Bio I'. |
|