American Herring Gull (smithsonianus)(last update: October 30, 2015) |
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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'. |