Photo 8: LBBG, Le Portel (France), May 04 2001.
A first type LBBG in first winter with all the tertials, primaries, tail and coverts still
juvenile. The scapulars look fresh second generation, patterned with a sub-terminal
band. In the coverts, moult has just started.
This is the general appearance of most of the LBBG, both in Le Portel and in
the Netherlands by early May.
The dark brown tint of the juvenile feathers (chocolate brown) fits LBBG better than
Yellow-legged Gulls,
which are numerous at Le Portel. Both LBBG and YLG may have shed the inner 1-3
primaries, but may also show complete juvenile flight feathers by early May.
Note the bill colour: not always black in first summer.