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

(last update: 10-11-2009)

Larus fuscus fuscus 3cy C7WE, July 09-17 2003, Tampere, Finland (61.33N 24.59E).

C7WE was ringed in Luhank, Finland; ringed as pullus on July 05 2001. Hand when ringed: 233 mm.
Ring records at Tampere landfill:
2003-05-28, 2003-05-31, 2003-06-04, 2003-06-07, 2003-06-14, 2003-06-15, 2003-06-29, 2003-07-01, 2003-07-05, 2003-07-09, 2003-07-11, 2003-07-12, 2003-07-13, 2003-07-15, 2003-07-16, 2003-07-17, 2003-07-20, 2003-07-23.

Larus fuscus fuscus in 2cy often returns with completely replaced primaries and secondaries. In 3cy, fuscus more often shows a clear division between fresh inner primaries and older outer primaries, the inner primaries often showing neat white tips and the outer primaries often second generation-like with rounded tips and paler bleached brown. The arrested moult in the primaries is often reflected in the secondaries and (to a less extend) in the tail-feathers as well. The older tail-feathers (often R5 is older) still show a broad dark sub-terminal band.
3cy fuscus often have some black markings on the bill, which is otherwise much adult-like, with a clear red gonydeal spot. The colour of the naked parts are adult-like as well. 
The scapulars in 3cy are often completely adult-like, lacking internal patterns; plain blackish grey with a mahogany hue on the older feathers. Most wing-coverts and tertials are adult-like blackish grey as well, but often 3cy birds show some very bleached pale brown wing-coverts, normally in the greater covert bar and in the upper rows of the lesser coverts. These bleached wing-coverts accentuate the jumpy sequence in the last wing-covert moult cycles, as there is often no clear pattern in location of these bleached feathers. Head and body feathers normally are snow-white by July.

C7WE was ringed in Finland, as pullus in 2001, now in 3cy. Prior to northbound migration, primary moult was arrested at P5, creating a clear division between P5 and P6-P10. The inner primaries are glossy black with white tips. The five older primaries P6-P10 are obviously older, paler bleached brown and lacking white tips, but note the size of the mirror on P10. However, it is arguable that even such P10 pattern may apply to 2nd generation. Note the limited amount of black markings on the bill. A few greater coverts stand out as older, bleached feathers.