Herring Gull (argentatus & argenteus)

(last update: February 11, 2013)

Coordinators:
Jean-Michel Sauvage (France)
Mars Muusse (the Netherlands)

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Herring Gull plumages:

HG 1cy July
HG 1cy August
HG 1cy September
HG 1cy October
HG 1cy November
HG 1cy December

HG 2cy January
HG 2cy February
HG 2cy March
HG 2cy April
HG 2cy May
HG 2cy June
HG 2cy July
HG 2cy August
HG 2cy September
HG 2cy October
HG 2cy November
HG 2cy December

HG 3cy January
HG 3cy February
HG 3cy March
HG 3cy April
HG 3cy May
HG 3cy June
HG 3cy July
HG 3cy August
HG 3cy September
HG 3cy October
HG 3cy November
HG 3cy December

HG sub-ad Jan.
HG sub-ad Feb.
HG sub-ad March
HG sub-ad April
HG sub-ad May
HG sub-ad June
HG sub-ad July
HG sub-ad Aug.
HG sub-ad Sept.
HG sub-ad Oct.
HG sub-ad Nov.
HG sub-ad Dec.

HG adult January
HG adult February
HG adult March
HG adult April
HG adult May
HG adult June
HG adult July
HG adult August
HG adult September
HG adult October
HG adult November
HG adult December

Herring Gull H-127132 3CY, August 12 2004, Westkapelle, the Netherlands (51.33N - 03.25 E).

A bird with a Belgian ring: Bruxelles H-127132, but plumage not typical for local argenteus. Ringed as 1CY on September 18 2002 at Blankenberge, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium, hence no provenance on origin.

Primaries P7 is fully grown. All wing-coverts and tertials are replaced for new feathers showing second generation-like patterns. The moult in the tail-feathers is obvious, with most of the tail missing.

From June to October, a complete moult will bring 3cy argenteus in so-called "third winter" plumage. By October, when the complete moult is finished, the head will show extensive 'winter streaking', mottled brown contrasting with the white breast as in an executioner's hood. The scapulars and mantle are pale adult-like grey. All wing-coverts will be replaced, most to plain grey feathers. Immature patterns can often be found in the lower tertials, greater coverts and outer lesser coverts (the carpal edge).

During the summer, the primaries are moulted to third generation. The first inner primaries are dropped by late May and the outer primary P10 will be dropped by late August. The primary moult is completed by late-October in argenteus, when the new outer primary P10 is fully grown. The third generation primaries are clearly adult-like, with the inner primaries P1-P4 plain grey with a white tip. The outer-wing shows a clear black triangle, extending on the greater primary coverts. From P4 outwards, the primaries show a black sub-terminal band. The white primary tips are obvious in the inner primaries, but often smaller on P9 and P10. P10 has a small white mirror (lacking in some birds). The new tail-feathers will be white, with clear immature black markings. The iris is pale brown-yellow.