Herring
Gull C4K91
2cy (argentatus), August 06 2002,
Tampere,
Finland (61.31N,23.43E).
A 2cy argentatus, ringed white
C4K91 as pullus
on June 27, 2001 in Kuopio, Finland. The complete moult is well underway with
most wing-coverts and the inner primaries moulted to second generation.
Primary P9 has been dropped and P10 is still juvenile. P1-P7 are fully
grown second generation flight-feathers. The inner secondaries are still
juvenile.
The tertials and the wing-coverts are replaced for second
generation feathers. The central greater coverts are still growing: the
gap in the greater covert row is almost closed. Almost all scapulars have been
replaced by second generation feathers, including the scapulars in the
lowest row.
By August, the warm brown tones of the first moulted 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 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. |

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