nominate Lesser Black-backed Gull (L. f. fuscus)

(last update: 21-12-2009)

Larus fuscus fuscus 4cy, 8cy & 9cy J844 May 2009, March 2013 & March 2014, Finland & Israel. Images Hannu Koskinen & Amir Ben Dov.

A Norwegian Baltic Gull (female). It has been ringed as pullus on July 28 2006 at Heimlaukoya Lemmingsvaer, Tranoy, Troms, N Norway by Thomas Bentsen. It was recovered earlier, once in Israel on April 05 2007 at Ashdod North Beach by Ehud Dovrat and Amir Ben Dov.

More information about migration strategies in Norwegian fuscus and the ringing programme in the three northern counties of Norway: Nordland, Troms and Finnmark, can be found here: The summary for juveniles can be found in the fuscus 1cy October section, the summary for adults can be found in the fuscus adult October section.
Morten Helberg, Geir Systad, Ingve Birkeland, Nils Lorentzen & Jan Bustnes published an article about this research in Ardea 97, 2009, titled: Migration patterns of adult and juvenile Lesser Black-backed Gulls Larus fuscus from northern Norway. The complete PDF can be found HERE.

below: fuscus 9cy J844 March 29 2014, Ashdod, Israel. Pictures Amir Ben Dov.

Still much black on bill.

below: fuscus 8cy J844 March 29 2013, Ashdod, Israel. Pictures Amir Ben Dov.

From this image, looks a bit slate-grey, lacking typical mahogany hue (hence the name "fuscus"). Now full adult, P10 has a mirror (not present in 4CY plumage, see below).

below: fuscus 4cy J844 May 02 2009, Tara, Finland. Images Hannu Koskinen.

Greater primary coverts with internal markings, clear bill-band and no mirror on P10. Black sub-terminal markings from P2 onwards (on 9 primaries).