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Caspian Gull Bavaria/Germany (1 Viewer)

i-Birder

Well-known member
Hello,

a local birder found this gull an a pond near Schweinfurt/Germany today and asked me for my opinion:

I am fairly confident that it is a 2nd winter caspian gull.

Although there are some points that puzzle me:
-> there is apparently no streaking on head or neck
-> the mantle shows too light a tone of grey
-> in the flight shot some of the inner primaries seem to be already 3rd generation feathers

But there is a white mirror on P10...

Well, I stand to be corrected...
 

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no doubt about this: 3cy caspian.

Absolutely, although the lack of streaking on the neck is unusual perhaps.

A similarly plumaged 3rd winter Herring should show white tips to the primaries. The black centred tertials are a useful feature although Herring Gull can show this too although perhaps not to such a great extent.

Flight shot is very useful as it shows the all important mirror in P10 which again is a very useful feature to note but can also be found in some (Argentatus?) Herring (and can be lacking, IMO, from some Caspians).

Certainly enough features evident on this bird to be sure that it is a Caspian.
 
structure usually is the best clue - bill shape (thin, parallel edged and pointed tip), long thin legs and high breast are apparent in this ind. yes, p10 mirror is found in the majority of 2nd winter cachinnans but not all. collar (neck streaking) is often lost towards spring due to wear and onsetting moult towards 2nd summer.
 
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