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

(last update: 21-12-2009)

Larus fuscus fuscus 4cy J204, May 15 2008, Koukku dump, Finland. Images Hannu Koskinen.

A Norwegian 4cy Baltic Gull which has been ringed as pullus on July 20 2005 at Nordland, N Norway by Morten Helberg. It was seen also 31.5.2007 at Tarastenjärvi, Tampere. No other recoveries so far.

Bird very adult-like, but with clear bill-band. There seems to be some immature black in the tail as well and the right wing has paler greater primary coverts and inner primaries P2-P3.It was seen also 2.5.2008 at Karanoja, Hämeenlinna and 4.5.2008 at Tarastenjärvi, Tampere. No other recoveries so far.

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.