L. michahellis: 3cy May

General description:

By May the numbers of 3cy michahellis slightly increase at Etaples in NW France with a few 10's in total (Etaples, Dannes, Boulogne-sur-Mer, see the Le Portel Page). Probably, many 3cy birds frequent the future breeding sites already and only return at Etaples from late June onwards.
The general appearance of May 3cy michahellis is rather straightforward. Most birds are easily recognized between 3cy argenteus, with darker grey upper-parts, pitch black primaries, with a red orbital ring and of course with yellow legs. An example of the average michahellis can be found in the first image. 

Moult stage and pace of remiges and rectrices:

By mid-May, primary moult is just starting in 3cy birds, which are about two primaries behind compared to 2cy birds (with P3 and P4 missing by mid-May). The outer primaries and secondaries are second generation, replaced about half a year ago, the white crescents are worn away. The rectrices have the white tips worn way as well. By May, the partial spring moult has finished, and a small minority of 3cy michahellis have included some rectrices in this moult. Hence, it's not uncommon to find 3cy birds showing plain white tail-feathers, in some birds creating a 'blocked' tail pattern.

Timing and strategy of wing-covert moult in May

What's the average moult in May? We didn't described enough 3cy birds in detail to draw any conclusions, the sample size has been too small. A few preliminary conclusions:
Head-streaking, which was obvious during the winter months and concentrated on the ear-coverts, around the eye and up to the crown from September to March, has been replaced by snow-white fresh head-feathers. The head and under-parts are white by May. 

3cy birds show a combination of adult-like grey scapulars, contrasting with adjacent barred lesser coverts. By May, moult in the scapulars is near zero in 3cy michahellis. In some individuals, the scapular region contains some old and abraded feathers, sometimes showing a barred pattern, others are completely bleached white with only a slightly darker shaft-streak. However, most birds have the entire back adult-like grey.

In several sections of 1cy and 2cy michahellis it's mentioned that birds include wing-coverts in the post-juvenile moult (unlike argentatus / argenteus where this post-juvenile moult is confined to the scapulars). Wing-coverts are replaced again in the compelte moult in 2cy and inner wing-coverts are included in the partial moult in autumn in 2cy. In 3cy birds, the wing-coverts are predominantly second generation, especially the outer greater coverts and most of the lesser coverts (in the carpal edge). Especially the median and lower lesser tract contain a mix of third or even fourth generation wing-coverts.
The upper tertials are often included in the post-juvenile moult and the partial autumn moult of 2cy as well. Some of the tertials, like the inner median and inner lower lesser coverts, may appear adult-like, sometimes plain grey. However, these grey third and fourth generation tertials may still show a delicate diffuse brown pattern. 

As stated earlier, the complete moult starts by mid-May, with 3cy birds dropping the innermost primary P1. Subsequently, the outer median coverts are shed as well as a start of the complete moult in the wing-coverts. This is the moult stage by the end of the month. 

See Topography Section for explanation of feather tracts.

Movements

By May, only the number of 3cy michahellis along the coasts of NW France increases slightly, as 3cy michahellis probably prefer this area to undergo the complete moult. At Etaples' fish-market, there is plenty of food. They probably belong to michahellis from the colonies of Marseille and the Mediterranean coast.

Tables

No tables.

michahellis 3cy male, May 24 2011, Tel Aviv - University Garden, Israel. Picture: Amir Ben Dov. Breeding.