7109.jpg (76399 bytes)Photo 8: LBBG 3cy, October 13 2001, Westkapelle, the Netherlands. Note the very small mirror on p10, divided by the black shaft. The outer primary have hardly visible white tips. The primary moult stage advocates 3cy: p10 almost full-grown. A few examples of 3cy LBBG with all grey upper-parts but with small tips on the outer primaries and reduced mirror on p10.

As long as immature coverts and tertials appear in the upper-parts, identification directly points to 3cy LBBG (e.g. pronounced black shaft streaks, spaghetti pattern in the coverts, club patterns on the outer lesser coverts in the carpal edge). When the upper-parts appear all grey, LBBGs may not be aged so easily. But still the primaries may be indicative for 3cy: the primary tips are very limited, often absent on p7-10. P10 normally shows a white mirror, but this mirror is reduced to a relatively small spot and often not reaching to the feather edges. In preening birds or birds stretching the wings, the outer secondaries may show some spaghetti pattern. The fresh tail feathers often show black markings, especially on the outer webs. Finally, the bare part coloration may point to immaturity, with extensive black on the bill (a clear bill-band), the basal half of the bill black or pinkish, the legs pinkish yellow and sometimes an off-yellow iris.

 

7170.jpg (64266 bytes)Photo 10: LBBG 3cy, October 13 2001, Westkapelle, the Netherlands.
7180.jpg (80760 bytes)Photo 11: LBBG 3cy, October 13 2001, Westkapelle, the Netherlands. Note the absence of a white mirror in the old second generation p10 and the immature bill coloration.
7465.jpg (84130 bytes)Photo 12: LBBG 3cy, October 22 2001, Westkapelle, the Netherlands. P8 full-grown, yet lacking a white tip.