Lesser Black-backed Gull (graellsii & intermedius)

(last update: 22-2-2011)

Lesser Black-backed Gull intermedius SVS 8100976 3CY,October 30 2003, Westkapelle, the Netherlands.

3cy LBBG ringed 8100976 Stockholm Sweden. SVS 8100976 was ringed as pullus 03 July 2001 at Vrango, Vastergotland, SW Sweden (57.31N 11.44E).

Moult progresses at low pace, with P8 fully grown and P10 still second generation in the right wing, abraded and bleached. In the left wing, all old primaries have been shed. The tail-feathers have been replaced completely and are typical fourth generation-like with only very limited black on some feathers (R2 & R4). The old secondaries have all been shed as well, but the innermost secondaries are still not fully grown.

This bird has a pale yellow bill with a pink base at the bill; the red gonydeal spot confined to the lower mandible and there is black on both mandibles. The iris is white-yellow without any dark speckling. The orbital ring is red. The legs are pinkish-flesh coloured. Note the fine head-streaking concentrated in the lower hind-neck and running down along the flanks. Covert moult stage pretty difficult to ascertain, as all wing-coverts and tertials much adult-like. However, tertials (tt1-2), the innermost greater covert (gc1-2) and some central median coverts are obvious older than adjacent feathers, showing a warm brown hue and much wear in the fringes.