www.gull-research.org

When I first saw it(Last week), I thought it was an ssp. argenteus based on P10 and P9 pattern, but now I dont have so sure. The mantle seemed dark for teus Hg.
http://i58.photobucket.com/albums/g279/ ... esized.jpg





best regards,
Rui Caratão

hi rui,

mantle is dark and it has large white mirrors, p10 tip being all white and p9 shows an almost thayeri-pattern. also, p10 is not fully grown which is very late. all these favour nominate (maybe a northern) herring gull.

lou

Hi lou I made my inicial ssp. identification based on P. adriaens & B. Mactavish paper Identification of adult American Herring Gull (I Know that should not be used the other way around), figure 6 and pattern c on P9 are present on 67.9% of teus versus 5.7% tatus. I am assuming that P9 on the photo as a small withe mirror in the inner web with white pale tip, but lattely my primary feather evaluation is not at is best, lou . But like you said, mantle color and still growing P10, are better for northern.

Rui

2 days after in the same beach and today, this 1 st winter Herring was present.
Could this Hg be tatus???? Or is there some glaucous /other blood in it? Head and bill shape dont seem to indicate a Viking



http://i58.photobucket.com/albums/g279/ ... resize.jpg
http://i58.photobucket.com/albums/g279/ ... resize.jpg
The only photo that shows the tail band....
http://i58.photobucket.com/albums/g279/ ... resize.jpg

Rui

Another one...



help..anyone??? That white head contrasting with uniform brown chest and belly only reminds me a very pale version of a smith.

Rui

There a better characters regarding smithsonianus than the one you mention This is a European Herring.

Hi Ruud, I thought on smithsonianus also, and I found photos of similar bleached birds, but in late winter http://www.tertial.us/gulls/smith1.htm. A 1 cy smith like this one would be very dificult to exclude from europeans, or not?

thanks,
Rui