Mediterranean Gull (L. melanocephalus)

(last update: June 11, 2012 )

Mediterranean Gull adult PHH2 November 07 2011, Le Portel / Boulogne-sur-Mer, NW France. Picture: Jean-Michel Sauvage.

Bird from Poland. Ringed as breeding adult (>3cy) on the nest: 23 May 2010 at Mietkow reservoir, Wroclaw, Poland.

30.06.2010 Calais,Pas-de-Calais,France.
02.07.2010 Calais,Pas-de-Calais;France
11.07.2010 Le-portel,Pas-de-Calais,france JMS
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07.11.2011 Le-Portel,Pas-de-Calais,France JMS

From June to September, a complete moult takes place, 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.