sub-adult: November - December

Last update of this page: 03-04-04 23:32

This page shows the variation of sub-adult Lesser Black-backed Gull in the months November to December.
The birds shown here are at least in 3^rd winter plumage (3cy and older), at most in their 5^th winter plumage. LBBG in 3cy and 4cy can look very much the same and in early winter, when the outer primaries are lost, it may be very hard to age them correctly. Those in 5cy are often recognized by and distinguished from adults by the black centres of the outer primary coverts. It has to be seen whether this feature completely rules out full-adults, since breeding LBBG in the colony (spring and summer) sometimes show this characteristic as well.
Some recently photographed sub-adults with rings show the difficulty and variation of specific ages during this sub-adult period.