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

(last update: 14-11-2009)

Larus fuscus fuscus 4cy C1NU, July 16-17 2003, Tampere, Finland (61.33N 24.59E).

C1NU was ringed in Luopio, Finland (61,33N 24,62E); ringed as pullus on July 04 2000 by Risto Juvaste. Hand when ringed: 305 mm. 
Read ring records, most at Tampere landfill:
2001: 2001-06-02, 2001-06-03, 2001-06-09, 2001-06-11, 2001-06-12, 2001-08-08, 2001-08-10, 2001-08-11, 
2002-04-29, 2002-05-01, 2002-05-11, 2002-05-12, 2002-05-18, 2002-05-25, 2002-05-26, 2002-05-31, 2002-06-01, 2002-06-02, 2002-06-09, 2002-06-15, 2002-06-29, 2002-07-11, 2002-07-12, 2002-07-14, 2002-07-16, 2002-07-19, 
2003-05-15, 2003-05-17, 2003-05-24, 2003-05-29, 2003-05-31, 2003-06-28, 2003-06-29, 2003-07-05, 2003-07-15, 2003-07-16, 2003-07-20, 2003-07-31, 2003-08-02.

Ringed as pullus at Luopio, Finland on July 04 2000, C1NU is now in 4cy. A representative for sub-adult fuscus by mid-July, but very adult-like in all respects. Most striking are the small size, the slender bill, the red gonydeal spot which normally doesn't exceed on the upper mandible (but there is a red hue on the upper mandible in this bird), the dark upper-parts which turn brown hued when older and worn, the lack of moult in the scapulars, wing-coverts and the primaries and the small white tips on the outer primaries, which wear away quickly. Note the contrast between the fresh cold blackish grey lower scapulars and the brown hued older upper scapulars.