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

(last update: 10-11-2009)

Larus fuscus fuscus 3cy C8CM, July 09-11 2003, Tampere, Finland (61.33N 24.59E).

C8CM was ringed in Ruoves, Finland (62,08N 24,12E); ringed as pullus on July 04 2001.
Ring records at Tampere landfill:
2001-08-30, 2001-08-31, 2001-09-02, 
2003-06-07, 2003-07-05, 2003-07-09, 2003-07-11, 2003-07-23, 2003-07-24, 2003-08-12, 2003-08-13.

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.

C8CM was ringed as pullus at Ruoves, Finland on July 04 2001, now in 3cy. This 3cy fuscus has the three outer primaries (P8-P10) bleached brown second generation, with the small white crescents worn away. P10 shows a small mirror. The seven inner primaries have been replaced prior to northbound migration. Primary moult was arrested at P7 this spring, leaving a clear division between P7 and P8.
Note the fresh outermost secondary in the bottom image, showing a grey base and large white tip, the common pattern in 3rd generation secondaries. Most rectrices appear all white. Note the dark markings on the bill and the retained bleached wing-coverts.