Lesser Black-backed Gull (graellsii & intermedius)

(last update: 14-11-2022 )

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For David Erterius, to illustrate what you may expect in spring in the Netherlands.
Ringed Lesser Black-backed Gull (graellsii & intermedius) which may recall heuglini in one aspect or another.

Lesser Black-backed Gull graellsii AR0.V 2CY, May 09 2017, Matosinhos beach, Matosinhos, Portugal. Picture: José Marques.
Graellsii-type from Belgium, with some inner coverts replaced in the post-juvenile moult, last winter. Slender posture.		 Lesser Black-backed Gull intermedius DKC 4L-5463 2CY, May 29 2017, Heemskerk, the Netherlands. Picture: Mars Muusse.
Intermedius from Denmark. Moult including upper tertials & inner coverts. Several rectrices replaced.		 Lesser Black-backed Gull intermedius J369N 2CY, May - September 2016, Utrecht, the Netherlands. Picture: Mars Muusse.
Wing-coverts replaced, all tertials and all tail-feathers replaced. Secondaries and primaries juvenile (except for 1x central secondary in left wing).		 Lesser Black-backed Gull intermedius J976Z 2CY, May 16 2017, Matosinhos, Portugal. Picture: José Marques.
Rctrices and primaries (at least P5-P9) replaced in winter. This is what can be expected for fuscus fuscus, but in general the pattern on coverts and posture point to intermedius. New 3rd gen scaps growing in, rather ashy grey, not blackish.
 

Lesser Black-backed Gull intermedius JM4E 2CY, June 16-23 2013, Noordwijk, the Netherlands. Picture Ruud Altenburg & Maarten van Kleinwee.
All rectrices replaced.

Lesser Black-backed Gull graellsii H713 2CY, April 16 2009, Quarteira, Portugal. Picture: Michael Davis.
P1 just dropped in April, plus active moult in wing-coverts and tertials. Post-juvenile moult or start of complete moult?

Lesser Black-backed Gull intermedius V.E1E 2CY, June 04 2011, Leiden, the Netherlands. Picture: Maarten van Kleinwee.
Active wing moult is very advanced: P1 - P6 new, P7 half-grown, P8 - P10 old, secondaries S1 - S3 new.

Lesser Black-backed Gull intermedius J287H 2CY, June 18 2017, Utrecht, the Netherlands. Picture: Mars Muusse.
Bird returned from the wintering grounds with advanced post-juvenile moult in wing-coverts and tertials. Central rectrices and innermost secondaries included as well.

 
   

Lesser Black-backed Gull intermedius V.83Z 2CY, May 24 2019, Katwijk, the Netherlands. Picture: Mars Muusse.
Intermedius from Denmark. Moult including upper tertials & inner coverts.

Lesser Black-backed Gull graellsii Y.CFB 2CY, May 29 2017, Heemskerk, the Netherlands. Picture: Mars Muusse.
Graellsii-type from the Netherlands. White headed and streaked in neck.

    
 
2CY birds in Western Europe in spring, which show extensive moult, and probably are advanced unringed graellsii or intermedius.
Lesser Black-backed Gull 2CY, May 10 2017, Katwijk, the Netherlands. Picture: Mars Muusse.
Intermedius-type. Complete moult not started, 2nd gen feathers were included in the post-juvenile moult on the wintering grounds.		 Lesser Black-backed Gull 2CY, May 29 2017, Heemskerk, the Netherlands. Picture: Mars Muusse.
 Intermedius x fuscus-type. Outer rectrices juvenile (left R4-R5, right R5) and outer secondaries in right wing S1 still juvenile. Moult arrested. Right wing P1-P3 relaced, left wing P1-P6 replaced.		 Lesser Black-backed Gull 2CY, May 29 2017, Heemskerk, the Netherlands. Picture: Mars Muusse.
 Intermedius x fuscus-type. P1-P7 replaced, then arrested its moult.		 Lesser Black-backed Gull 2CY, May 29 2017, Heemskerk, the Netherlands. Picture: Mars Muusse.
Intermedius-type with advanced post-juvenile moult in wing-coverts and rectrices. Complete moult started: P1-P3 missing.
 
Lesser Black-backed Gull 2CY, May 29 2017, Heemskerk, the Netherlands. Picture: Mars Muusse.
Intermedius-type with advanced post-juvenile moult in late winter, prior to northbound migration. All feather tracts included, except for the primaries. 		Lesser Black-backed Gull 2CY, May 24 2016, Katwijk, the Netherlands. Picture: Mars Muusse.
 Inner secondaries and complete tail replaced. Primaries, central & outer secondaries are old juvenile.

Lesser Black-backed Gull 2CY, May 27 2016, Utrecht, the Netherlands. Picture: Mars Muusse.
 Many inner wing-coverts and the upper tertials were replaced, and tail completely renewed as well.

Lesser Black-backed Gull 2CY, June 24 2013, Noordwijk, the Netherlands. Picture: Mars Muusse.
 Intermedius-like moult: almost all wing-coverts (but note juvenile feathers in carpal edge), and tertials replaced. White underparts and head by June.
 

Lesser Black-backed Gull 2CY, June 24 2013, Noordwijk, the Netherlands. Picture: Mars Muusse.
 Intermedius-like moult: extensive moult on winter grounds, including almost all wing-coverts, tertials and rectrices. Whitish below by June.

Lesser Black-backed Gull 2CY, June 15 2013, Noordwijk, the Netherlands. Picture: Maarten van Kleinwee.
Replaced tail-feathers and secondaries (except S1 and S2).

Lesser Black-backed Gull 2CY, June 24 2013, Noordwijk, the Netherlands. Picture: Mars Muusse.
Intermedius-like moult: extensive moult on winter grounds, including secondaries and rectrices. Whitish below by June.

Lesser Black-backed Gull 2CY, June 19 2017, Katwijk, the Netherlands. Picture: Mars Muusse.
Intermedius-like moult: extensive moult on winter grounds, including secondaries and rectrices. Whitish below by June.
 

Lesser Black-backed Gull 2CY, June 12 2016, Utrecht, the Netherlands. Picture: Mars Muusse.
Inner coverts and tertials replaced last winter. White headed.

Lesser Black-backed Gull 2CY, June 12 2016, Utrecht, the Netherlands. Picture: Mars Muusse.
Many coverts and tertials replaced last winter. White underparts and head.

Lesser Black-backed Gull 2CY, June 12 2016, Utrecht, the Netherlands. Picture: Mars Muusse.
Several coverts and tertials replaced last winter. White underparts and head, yellow bill base.

Lesser Black-backed Gull 2CY, June 12 2016, Utrecht, the Netherlands. Picture: Mars Muusse.
Most coverts and tertials replaced last winter. White underparts and head, yellow bill base.
 

Lesser Black-backed Gull 2CY, May 23 2019, Katwijk, the Netherlands. Picture: Mars Muusse.

Lesser Black-backed Gull 2CY, May 09 2017, Katwijk, the Netherlands. Picture: Mars Muusse.

Lesser Black-backed Gull 2CY, May 09 2017, Katwijk, the Netherlands. Picture: Mars Muusse.
Intermedius-type with advanced post-juvenile moult including primaries P1-P4 replaced last spring.

Lesser Black-backed Gull 2CY, May 13 2020, Utrecht, the Netherlands. Picture: Mars Muusse.
Intermedius-type with advanced post-juvenile moult including wing-coverts, tertials, rectrices and secondaries.
 

Lesser Black-backed Gull 2CY, May 24 2019, Katwijk, the Netherlands. Picture: Mars Muusse.
P1-P2 replaced last spring, then moult arrested.

Lesser Black-backed Gull 2CY, June 16 2018, Utrecht, the Netherlands. Picture: Mars Muusse.
Intermedius-type moult and white underparts/head.

Lesser Black-backed Gull 2CY, June 19 2017, Katwijk, the Netherlands. Picture: Mars Muusse.
Tail and secondaries replaced in post-juvenile moult. White headed with streakes in neck.

Lesser Black-backed Gull 2CY, June 29 2017, Utrecht, the Netherlands. Picture: Mars Muusse.
 
 

Lesser Black-backed Gull 2CY, June 01 2017, Utrecht, the Netherlands. Picture: Mars Muusse.
Intermedius-type with advanced post-juvenile moult including wing-coverts, tertials, rectrices and secondaries. Now complete moult has started: P1 growing, P2 missing, P3-P10 old juvenile.

Lesser Black-backed Gull 2CY, June 12 2016, Utrecht, the Netherlands. Picture: Mars Muusse.
All rectrices and in left wing many secondaries and even inner primaries replaced. Right wing not completely similar (all secs juv).

Lesser Black-backed Gull 2CY, June 01 2017, Utrecht, the Netherlands. Picture: Mars Muusse.
Intermedius-type with advanced post-juvenile moult including wing-coverts, tertials, rectrices and secondaries. And also primaries P1-P4 replaced last spring. P5 growing and several coverts missing (will now be replaced for 3rd gen).