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American or European HG

Posted: Sun Jan 01, 2012 12:58 am
by paseriformes
I took this picture in Madrid on Frebuary 2010 one week later that we found a 2º winter Larus smithsonianus.
Regards
Delfín

Re: American or European HG

Posted: Sun Jan 01, 2012 2:08 pm
by marsmuusse
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).

Re: American or European HG

Posted: Sun Jan 01, 2012 10:25 pm
by JanJ
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

Re: American or European HG

Posted: Mon Jan 02, 2012 4:24 pm
by Ruud Altenburg
Frankly it looks like an LBBG to me!