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

(last update: 2-12-2009)

Larus fuscus fuscus 1-2-3cy C10H Tara dump (Tampere) SW Finland. Pictures: Hannu Koskinen & Markkhu Kangasniemi.

Male Baltic Gull. First image of C10H, in complete juvenile plumage on August 13 2006. Picture: Markku Kangasniemi.

Ringed as pullus on 30 June 2006 at Kuhmal, Häme, Finland.

Below: C10H as 2cy bird. Pictures by Hannu Koskinen on May 09 2007. Despite early arrival in Finland, all feathers replaced on the wintering grounds, with several adult-like feathers probably already of 3rd generation.

Below: four images of C10H now as 3cy back in Finland. First 3cy C10H photographed at May 21, other three pictures July 13. Small mirrors on P10 and almost white tail. Moult in greater primary coverts probably different from primary sequence. Pictures by Hannu Koskinen.
It would be interesting to reconstruct the moult cycli of this bird. Of course there is an obvious difference between the tips of P6 and P7, with P7 suddenly missing the white tip. However, the condition of these feathers and the intensity of migmentation and its bleaching (on the exposed outer-webs) is rather similar for both feathers, leaving the question if there really was a long period between the replacements of these primaries.