American or European HG

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paseriformes
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American or European HG

Post by paseriformes » Sun Jan 01, 2012 12:58 am

I took this picture in Madrid on Frebuary 2010 one week later that we found a 2º winter Larus smithsonianus.
Regards
Delfín
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marsmuusse
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Joined:Sun Sep 27, 2009 12:43 pm

Re: American or European HG

Post by marsmuusse » Sun Jan 01, 2012 2:08 pm

Hi Delfin,
Well, it could be smith, but to get it accepted is difficult, as it does not show the classic combination of features (e.g. dark bars on tail coverts broad, dark rectrices).

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JanJ
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Joined:Mon Oct 12, 2009 10:08 pm

Re: American or European HG

Post by JanJ » Sun Jan 01, 2012 10:25 pm

I would agree with Mars that it doesn´t reach all the way for smithsonianus, not with the present knowledge perhaps best added. However, the identification of 1st cycle smithsonianus and separation from certain dark argenteus/argentatus with dark tails on this side of the pond (as some individuals in N.America, which shows characters of argenteus/argentatus), is one of the most difficult identification issues! The scapular pattern on Delfins gull is perhaps more typical of european Herring but is also seen in american.

A dark Herring by Jörgen Bernsmo. Notice the scapular pattern.

http://www.artportalen.se/birds/gallery ... eid=183980 (http://www.pbase.com/slisch/image/120906731)

Different light:

http://www.artportalen.se/birds/gallery ... eID=189150


Dark end...

viewtopic.php?f=3&t=198

JanJ

Ruud Altenburg
Posts:248
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Re: American or European HG

Post by Ruud Altenburg » Mon Jan 02, 2012 4:24 pm

Frankly it looks like an LBBG to me!

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