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

(last update: 14-12-2009)

Larus fuscus fuscus adult, December 11 2009, Ashdod (Yavne), Israel. Image Amir Ben Dov.

An adult fuscus by mid December in Israel. Complete moult half way, with inner primaries renewed and outer two primaries still old. P7 almost as long as P5, P8 not visible, but P6 obvious the longest new primary: score P6/P9. Secondary moult started as well, with S1 almost at it's full length. In this early stage of the secondary moult, the moult gap is still small, but soon secondaries will be dropped at higher speed, and another, second, moult wave in the secondaries will start from the body outwards, meeting the first secondary moult wave at about S16-S18.