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

(last update: 25-1-2010)

Larus fuscus fuscus 4CY & 9CY C27N October - December 2009 & March 2014, Ashdod, Israel. Images Amir Ben Dov & Yoav Perlman.

Ringed as pullus on July 01 2006 at Pori, Finland (61.6548, 21.3754) by ringer Matti Sillanpää.

below: C27N 9CY, March 08 2014, Ashdod, Israel. Images: Amir Ben Dov.

Crisp adult, with some black on bill in 9CY.

below: C27N December 08-11 2009, Ashdod, Israel. Images Amir Ben Dov & Yoav Perlman.

Note the extensive black bill-band as 4cy bird.
C27N by mid December: P7 fully grown, P10 still old. Probably, P7 has to grow just a little bit to reach its full length, P8 is at the length of P5.

below: C27N November 06 2009, Ashdod, Israel. Image: Amir Ben Dov.

Now by early November. Complete moult started, with inner primaries renewed and outer three primaries still old. Difficult to determine if central tail feathers are missing.

below: C27N October 30 2009, Ashdod, Israel. Images: Amir Ben Dov.

A dark grey looking adult, photographed in rainy conditions. Slender bird with pointed long wings when resting, but be aware of missing central primaries now the complete moult is in progress.
Primary moult stage not described in the field, but central primaries obviously missing, probably P7-P10 old or P8-P10 old. Normal moult gap would be P4 fully grown, P5 fully grown at most. Central tail feathers may already been missing, indicated by the 'thin' tail. This would be in line with the common moult timing and strategy in the complete moult.
Innermost greater coverts and median coverts fresh, central lower lesser coverts are growing. Central greater coverts obviously missing, exposing the secondaries underneath, which show very abraded white tips.
Ill-defined head streaking in the hind neck and a black smudge on the bill. Red gonydeal spot doesn't exceed on the upper mandible. Upperpart colour rather cold grey, slightly paler than black old outer primaries.