Lesser Black-backed Gull (graellsii & intermedius)

(last update: May 17 2015)

LBBG 3cy, January 05 2001, Westkapelle, the Netherlands. 

Here a second winter bird (3cy bird by January!). The new second generation primaries are all without a white tip and tar black coloured.
The bill, legs and iris are still immature. The greater coverts, lesser coverts, most tertials and a few scapulars are older second generation feathers. The new third generation feathers can be found in the medians and the inner greater coverts, the upper tertials and most of the scapulars. These third generation feathers are grey-brown based with paler tip, show a brown sub-terminal band and two or three brown bands. Its not said that all third generation feathers will be of this type coming spring. Third generation greater coverts may appear as adult-like coverts when moulted last in line (contrasting with the earlier moulted median coverts of the same generation).