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

(last update: 1-3-2010)

Larus fuscus fuscus 5cy & 11cy CPJ5, July 2003 & May 03 2009, Tara dump, Tampere, Finland. Pictures Mars Muusse & Hannu Koskinen.

This bird has been ringed as pullus in Finland, on 04 July at pull Hauho SW Finland.

below: 11cy CPJ5 May 03 2009, Tara dump, Tampere, Finland. Pictures Hannu Koskinen.

The median coverts and lower lesser coverts appear more blackish than the lesser coverts and greater coverts, which are more brown hued.

below: 5cy CPJ5, July 13-16 2003, Tampere, Finland (61.33N 24.59E).

CPJ5 was ringed in Hauho, Finland (61,24N 24,58E); ringed as pullus on July 04 1999. Hand when ringed: 285 mm. 
Ring records at Tampere landfill:
2001: 1 winter record from Israel (31.85N 34.66E) on 2001-04-13,
2001: 10 records from 2001-06-05 until 2001-08-04,
2002: 18 records from 2002-05-01 until 2002-07-20,
2003: 22 records from 2003-05-11 until 2003-08-12.

Ringed as pullus at Hauho, Finland on July 04 1999, now in 5cy. This individual obviously shows contrast between old and fresh wing-coverts, in a pattern reminiscent of 3cy birds. Compared to western taxa: fuscus with small size, slender bill, the red gonydeal spot normally not exceeding on the upper mandible, brown hue on the dark upper-parts, lack of active moult in the scapulars, wing-coverts and the primaries and the small white tips on the outer primaries, which wear away quickly. The pattern of very bleached greater coverts and lower tertials is often found in 3cy and 4cy birds, but apparently may be shown by older adults as well. Bare parts typical adult-like. P1-P10 still old.