American Herring Gull (smithsonianus)

(last update: October 30, 2015)

Coordinators:
Amar Ayyash (US)
Bruce Mactavish (Canada)
Dave Brown (Canada)
Mars Muusse (Netherlands)

Vega Gull (vegae) 2nd cycle, December 27 2009 - January 04 2010, Choshi, Japan. Picture: Chris Gibbins.

See Chris's BLOG.

Atypical patterned secondaries for 2nd cycle bird. Normally 2nd gen secondaries have extensive dark centres (like on the lower tertials in this bird), instead these feathers are much like 3rd gen secondaries. Primary pattern, especially on P3 and P5 typical for 2nd gen (3rd gen P5 would show an adult-like blackish subterminal band and white tip).