American or European HG

[paseriformes]

I took this picture in Madrid on Frebuary 2010 one week later that we found a 2º winter Larus smithsonianus.
Regards
Delfín

[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).

[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

[Ruud Altenburg]

Frankly it looks like an LBBG to me!