Herring
Gull - Zilvermeeuw (argentatus & argenteus)
(last update: 08 december 2003)
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Herring Gull 5.xx1.121 adult (argenteus), February 04 2003, IJmuiden, the Netherlands (52.27N-04.33E).
An adult argenteus ringed in the Netherlands: Arnhem Ringstation 5.xx1.121, probably ringed at IJmuiden.The bill has some limited black markings on the upper mandible. The orbital ring is yellow-orange. The legs are flesh coloured.
In the primaries, note the lack of black sub-terminal markings on P10 and a complete sub-terminal band on P9. The white tip of P10 is connected with the mirror. The black patch between the apical spot and the white inner-web (the medial band) is very broad, even on the narrowest point along the edge of the inner-web. Argenteus normally shows such a broad medial band, where it is restricted in argentatus.
By the second week of February, at least 25% of adult argenteus from the Netherlands are in active moult on the head. This is often obvious in the feathers around the eye, which are shed by the second week of February, leaving a naked ring around the eye (visible at close range). Last years (2000-2003) winters have been very mild, with many adult argenteus back in the colonies by early February in the Netherlands (north to 53° latitude).
Image below: argenteus shortly after hail storm.
