Herring Gull- Zilvermeeuw (argentatus & argenteus)

(last update: 8-2-2007)

Herring Gull 3cy (argenteus), February 04 2002, IJmuiden, the Netherlands (52.27N-04.33E).

A typical argenteus with the mantle and scapulars adult-like plain grey. The brown second generation primaries have rounded tips (unlike the pointed juvenile primaries) and lack a mirror on P10. The second generation tail has a broad dark tail-band and a thin white fringes.
The new scapulars are uniform grey without any old brownish feathers left, creating a clear "grey saddle", contrasting with the lesser wing-coverts. Some new scapulars show a dark accentuated shaft-streak.
This individual has moulted some wing-coverts to third generation feathers in the partial autumn moult as 2cy bird: the three upper tertials have been replaced. The third generation tertials show a grey centre with a faint brown wash and a hint of an arrow-head pattern at the tip. The three inner greater coverts were replaced as well and they show the same pattern as the upper tertials. Those new feathers strongly contrast with the barred second generation central and outer greater coverts which are clearly barred white-brown patterned. In the median coverts and the lower lesser coverts new grey feathers are growing in in the centre of the wing.
The bill is two-toned, the iris is already yellowish and the orange orbital ring is just visible in the picture.