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

(last update: 18-1-2010)

Larus fuscus fuscus adult, January 06 2010, Ashdod, Israel. Picture Amir Ben Dov.

Unringed adult nominate fuscus by January. P7 fully grown, P8 is growing and at about 3/4th of its final length, P9 is just visible, at about 1/4th of its final length. Active moult in the secondaries, with S1-S3 replaced, S4 growing and a moult gap. Central secondaries still old. The secondary row is moulted from two locations: the first moult wave starts at S1 (outermost secondary, next to the first primary P1). Shortly later, another secondary moult wave will start from the body, outwards. The two waves will meet at about S16-S18.