Slaty-backed Gull (schistisagus) / オオセグロカモメ / 큰재갈매기

(last update: December 2015)

Slaty-backed Gull (schistisagus) 2nd cycle (3CY), May 15 2014, Choshi, Chiba, Japan. Picture: Shiroto.

Visit Shiroto's website for many more gull pictures from Japan!

Immature looking bird, mostly due to wear. As the greater coverts are very worn, the secondaries underneath are exposed showing their pattern: narrow white tips almost completely worn away and brown centres. This is typically the pattern on 2nd gen secondaries making this bird most probably 2nd cycle. Otherwise retarded plumage with much brown tones, also in primaries. Bicoloured bill.