Vega Gull (vegae) / セグロカモメ / 재갈매기

(last update: December 2015)

Vega Gull (vegae) sub-adult, October 25 2006, Miura Kanagawa, Japan. Picture: Michiaki Ujihara.

Please visit Osao's & Michiaki's gull website for tons of excellent images.

On this day, a group of approx 40 adult and sub-adult Vega Gulls (and maybe some Taimyr taimyrensis) were scored on primary moult. All the presnt individuals still had some old outer primaries, yet to be moulted. Only two individuals did not have old primary left and these individuals may have been non-pure vegae ('taimyrensis').

In this bird, note much black on the bill. Showing an advanced primary moult when comparted to full adults; this primary moult overlaps with Mongolian Gull. However, the dense and soft mottling on the neck and breast is more likely found in Vega Gull rather than in Mongolian Gull. P8 fully grown.