(3 images) Herring Gull T 93788 2cy (argentatus), January 15 2004, Lubna rubbish dump, Poland (52°02'N 21°08'E ).
This individual was ringed in Estonia, Matsalu T-93.788. It was ringed the previous summer as pullus at June 24 2003, at Outu Kivilaid, Lääne, Estonia (58.32N 23.35E). All scapulars have been replaced for second generation feathers. The inner wing-coverts and upper tertials show clear abrasion.
Argentatus is a breeding species of northern latitudes in Scandinavia, and as can be expected, the moult to second generation feathers is delayed, compared to south-western breeding argenteus. Argentatus from the northernmost populations remain in Scandinavia for most of the autumn, and this factor, together with the later hatching date, may be one of the reasons the juvenile feathers are not as bleached as in argenteus by January. The southern argentatus populations from Denmark, eastern Germany and the Baltic states are more reminiscent of argenteus, as this individual clearly illustrates.
In the top image: side by side with 2cy cachinnans.
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