Herring Gull- Zilvermeeuw (argentatus & argenteus)

(last update: 9-2-2007)

Herring Gull 3G3 3cy (argenteus), March 16 2003, Boulogne-sur-Mer, France (50.42N,1.34E).

A typical argenteus, ringed in Britain, yellow 3G3. The new scapulars are plain adult-like grey, but there are still a few anchor patterned scapulars, so no perfect grey saddle in this individual. The bill is typical for 3cy birds in March, pinkish base and a broad bill-band. Note the rather black-brown second generation primaries lacking the mirror on P10. Compared to Scandinavian argentatus, the general impression resembles argentatus in 4cy, which also show an almost complete grey scapular region and single grey feathers in the tertials, inner greater coverts and a few lesser coverts.
The moult-stage is somewhat difficult to interpret by March. The scapulars are more or less uniform grey with just a few patterned brownish feathers left. Many grey scapulars appear abraded at the fringes already, especially in the upper scapulars.
This British individual has moulted the upper tertials (now barred) and some wing-coverts in the partial autumn moult as 2cy bird: tertials #1-3 have been replaced, eight median coverts and nine lower lesser coverts have been replaced. Most feathers are inner wing-coverts. The new feathers have fresh fringes and tips and are more adult-like in their patterns, some are completely grey.