Mediterranean Gull (L. melanocephalus)

(last update: October 22, 2014 )

Mediterranean Gull H0F1 3CY, October 21 2014, Boulogne-sur-Mer, NW France. Picture: Jean-Michel Sauvage.

Ringing data: red H0F1 and metal ring SH00.092; ringed as pullus by Domján András on June 17 2012 at Szeged (Fehér-tó XI. - Korom-sziget), Csongrád, Hungary (46°20'5"N 20°4'57"E). Distance: 1341 Km.

History:
17.06.2012 Szeged (Fehér-tó XI. - Korom-sziget), Csongrád, Hungary (46°20'5"N 20°4'57"E)
21.10.2014 Boulogne-sur-Mer (harbour), Pas-de-Calais (62), France (50°43'30"N 1°35'0"E) JM.Sauvage.

From June to September, a complete moult takes place in 3CY birds, into so-called "adult winter" plumage. The head pattern resembles the pattern in first winter birds, with blackish mask behind the eye. The mantle, scapulars, tertials and all the wing-coverts are replaced for plain pearl-grey feathers. The secondaries are completely white. The adult primaries are shiny pearly-grey, flashing white at a distance. There is a black line along the outer-web of P10 (and sometimes on P9 as well). Secondaries, under-wing and tail all completely white. The bare part coloration in adult plumage: Iris brown, orbital ring red or orangey-red, the bill red or orangey-red with a black bill-band and a yellowish tip and the legs dull reddish or dark. There is some variation in 3cy and 4cy wing-tip patterns.