BirdForum

Geoff Pain · Sunday 16th March 2003, 18:42

Would I be right in thinking that this is a leucistic Black-headed Gull?

Geoff

T0ny · Sunday 16th March 2003, 18:51

That seems likely, Geoff, but the bare-part colour (bill & legs) has me a little confused - in leucistic birds they are often lighter than usual. When & where was the pic taken ?

Tony

Geoff Pain · Sunday 16th March 2003, 19:07

Taken today TOny at the Allen Pools,Leighton Moss.

Geoff

Candice · Monday 17th March 2003, 02:43

I think you may be right! Interesting shot. Compared to several photos on other sites, this bird has a much lighter head color than the other Black-headed Gulls. And all the rest of this bird appears snow white--how neat! Pretty gull.

Szabo Jozsef · Monday 17th March 2003, 05:17

Agree with Tony, most probably a leucistic Black-headed Gull

Darrell Clegg · Monday 17th March 2003, 10:26

Yes - Leucistic Black-headed Gull. The only other possibility would be hybrid Black-headed X Med Gull, but the pure white back & wings as well as the overall structure of the bird eliminate that.

Darrell

cjay · Monday 24th March 2003, 19:00

I would go with BHG X Med Gull Hybrid. The Red Legs & bill gives it away. Leucistic BHG,s will have no head colouration all year.

CJ

Harry Hussey · Tuesday 25th March 2003, 11:45

Hi Colin,
"Leucistic BHG's will have no head colouration all year"
They do gain a hood,it's just paler than usual.The bird in the photo is a leucistic BHG,in my opinion.
Hybrid BHG x Med would at least be expected to show some structural features of Med(thicker bill,longer legs etc)
Harry

Steve Lister · Tuesday 25th March 2003, 15:49

Got to go along with Harry on this one. There is nothing at all to suggest a BHGxMed Gull. Clearly a leucistic Black-headed.

Steve

n2ho · Tuesday 20th June 2006, 20:33

Quote:

Originally Posted by steveinleics

Got to go along with Harry on this one. There is nothing at all to suggest a BHGxMed Gull. Clearly a leucistic Black-headed.

Steve

I think I have the same bird photo (taken in Slovak Republic).
George

JANJ · Tuesday 20th June 2006, 20:55

Here´s another one from Notts.Attenborough (July)

http://www.surfbirds.com/media/galle...0721025945.jpg

JanJ

Jane Turner · Tuesday 20th June 2006, 21:08

I'm seeing no evidence of Med gull in that bird.

London Birder · Tuesday 20th June 2006, 21:14

nor me ...

eagle33 · Wednesday 21st June 2006, 07:31

Seems this bird shows up at leighton moss every year i had (probably the same bird) there this time last year.

dan pointon · Wednesday 21st June 2006, 10:31

Before I began reading the posts I was gonna ask if that was taken at Leighton Moss, i've seen that bird myself this spring, and it's definitely a leucistic Black Head.

Tri-Counties Birder · Wednesday 21st June 2006, 18:31

I also think there is some Med Gull in there somewhere, the bill looks especially heavy and bright for a Black-headed.

Edit: I have taken a second look, and actually I am going to go for the leucistic pure Black-headed after all.

I'll bow to the superior knowledge

Sunday 16th March 2003, 18:42	#1
Geoff Pain Rural Member Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Stackhouse,North Yorkshire Posts: 1,833 My location	Black-headed Gull? Would I be right in thinking that this is a leucistic Black-headed Gull? Geoff Attached Thumbnails __________________ Geoff In order to see birds it is necessary to become part of the silence. Robert Lynd Last edited by Geoff Pain : Sunday 16th March 2003 at 19:09.

Sunday 16th March 2003, 18:51	#2
T0ny Okillre Member Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Paston, Norfolk, UK Posts: 1,091	That seems likely, Geoff, but the bare-part colour (bill & legs) has me a little confused - in leucistic birds they are often lighter than usual. When & where was the pic taken ? Tony __________________ When in Danger or in Doubt - Run in circles, scream and shout.

Sunday 16th March 2003, 19:07	#3
Geoff Pain Rural Member Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Stackhouse,North Yorkshire Posts: 1,833 My location	Taken today TOny at the Allen Pools,Leighton Moss. Geoff __________________ Geoff In order to see birds it is necessary to become part of the silence. Robert Lynd

Monday 17th March 2003, 10:26	#6
Darrell Clegg Registered User Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Cornwall Posts: 1,364	Yes - Leucistic Black-headed Gull. The only other possibility would be hybrid Black-headed X Med Gull, but the pure white back & wings as well as the overall structure of the bird eliminate that. Darrell __________________ http://www.adventuresinanemptycorner.blogspot.com/

Tuesday 20th June 2006, 21:08	#12
Jane Turner Registered User Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Hoylake, Merseyside Posts: 19,602 My location	I'm seeing no evidence of Med gull in that bird. __________________ If I'm not online I'm probably here! Last Cheshire Lesser Scaup (301) last Red Rocks Grey Partridge (250), last Garden Avocet (202), last Self-found Great White Egret (293)
	Click here to Support BirdForum

Monday 17th March 2003, 02:43	#4
Candice Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Florida, USA Posts: 39	I think you may be right! Interesting shot. Compared to several photos on other sites, this bird has a much lighter head color than the other Black-headed Gulls. And all the rest of this bird appears snow white--how neat! Pretty gull.

Monday 17th March 2003, 05:17	#5
Szabo Jozsef Registered User Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Transylvania Posts: 142	Agree with Tony, most probably a leucistic Black-headed Gull

Monday 24th March 2003, 19:00	#7
cjay Forum Member Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: UK Posts: 1,689	I would go with BHG X Med Gull Hybrid. The Red Legs & bill gives it away. Leucistic BHG,s will have no head colouration all year. CJ

Tuesday 25th March 2003, 11:45	#8
Harry Hussey Registered User Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Cork,Ireland Posts: 3,804	Hi Colin, "Leucistic BHG's will have no head colouration all year" They do gain a hood,it's just paler than usual.The bird in the photo is a leucistic BHG,in my opinion. Hybrid BHG x Med would at least be expected to show some structural features of Med(thicker bill,longer legs etc) Harry

Tuesday 25th March 2003, 15:49	#9
Steve Lister World Birder, County Recorder and Garden Moth-er Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Loughborough, Leicestershire Posts: 3,159 My location	Got to go along with Harry on this one. There is nothing at all to suggest a BHGxMed Gull. Clearly a leucistic Black-headed. Steve

Tuesday 20th June 2006, 20:55	#11
JANJ Registered User Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Sweden Posts: 7,791	Here´s another one from Notts.Attenborough (July) http://www.surfbirds.com/media/galle...0721025945.jpg JanJ

Tuesday 20th June 2006, 21:14	#13
London Birder Registered User Join Date: May 2003 Location: London Posts: 3,335	nor me ... __________________ D. McKenzie.

Wednesday 21st June 2006, 07:31	#14
eagle33 Craig Shaw Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: cumbria Posts: 827	Seems this bird shows up at leighton moss every year i had (probably the same bird) there this time last year. Attached Thumbnails

Wednesday 21st June 2006, 10:31	#15
dan pointon Can't Stop Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Staffs Posts: 3,271	Before I began reading the posts I was gonna ask if that was taken at Leighton Moss, i've seen that bird myself this spring, and it's definitely a leucistic Black Head.

Wednesday 21st June 2006, 18:31	#16
Tri-Counties Birder The inland seawatcher Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Surrey/W. Sussex/Hants border Posts: 2,910 My location	I also think there is some Med Gull in there somewhere, the bill looks especially heavy and bright for a Black-headed. Edit: I have taken a second look, and actually I am going to go for the leucistic pure Black-headed after all. I'll bow to the superior knowledge __________________ Sean Foote Surrey Moths and Butterflies Blog: http://surreymothing.blogspot.com/ Last Lifers: World - Ptarmigan (387) UK - Ptarmigan (334), Moth - Plumed Prominent (456), Butterfly - Monarch (47), Plant - Borage (450), Fungi - Purplepore Bracket (289) Last edited by Tri-Counties Birder : Wednesday 21st June 2006 at 18:35.
	Click here to Support BirdForum

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Rate This Thread
Rate This Thread:

BirdForum

The net's largest birding community, dedicated to wild birds