American Herring Gull (smithsonianus)

(last update: October 30, 2015)

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

American Herring Gull (smithsonianus) 42A 2nd pre-basic moult (2CY), July 16 2015, Rockingham Co. New Hampshire. Picture: Amar Ayyash.

Visit Amar's BLOG: anything larus.

Banded on Appledore Island, banded as pullus on July 18 2014. See website: The Gulls Of Appledore.

In complete moult: P5/P8. Wing-covert panel largely replaced, still with moult gap in central greater coverts (now exposing the old juvenile secondary centres underneath) and a few coverts in the carpal edge are retained old juvenile (very worn, there is only a shaft streak left). Upper tertials replaced, lower tertials and (visible) secondaries still juvenile. Dark iris and two-toned bill.

This is about the moment that the central tail-feaher pair and outermost secondaries (S1) will be shed, if 2CY birds follow the 'ordinary moult sequence'.