Herring Gull - Sweden today (1 Viewer)

[Aladdin]

Dear members and bird watchers!

I was out looking for gulls today and there was about 40 Herring Gulls. All different ages. I have learned here on Birdforum to tell the ages of the Herring gulls and I have aged the birds as:
Picture #1 - ADULT
Picture #2-4 - 4TH CALENDER YEAR, will have babies this upcoming summer
Picture #5+6 - 3RD CALENDER YEAR
Picture #7+8 - 2ND CALENDER YEAR, born last summer

Anyone disagree with my ageing of the birds?

Kind regards and happy birding
Aladdin

 

[kuzeycem]

7 is a 3rd calendar year IMO

 

[Aladdin]

7 is a 3rd calendar year IMO

Thank you!

Yes, you are right, I was doubt full as the bill look like 2nd year and the grey back look like 3rd year for me. So I guess it is a 3rd year then.

And I think they mature different, maybe depending on if they are born early or late.

The 4th year bird, one picture have red and black spot and 2 of the birds only have black. According to the excellent link I got here on Birdforum http://gull-research.org/ the 4th year should not have the red/black dot until March and now it is early Feb. So maybe this bird was born early.

Anyway, it is interesting with the different plumage even though it drives me crazy sometimes.

Thanks again, appreciated

Kind regards and happy birding
Aladdin

 

[lou salomon]

1. adult
2. looks like another adult, just with lots of black in bill. without an open wing shot you can't tell. but large white tips to primaries suggest at least a 5cy or 6cy.
3. 4cy or 5cy (not reliably to tell witohut an open wing). note small white primary tips and dark centered tertials.
4. 4cy or 5cy type.
5. 4cy.
6. 4cy
7. 3cy
8. 2cy

 

[Aladdin]

1. adult
2. looks like another adult, just with lots of black in bill. without an open wing shot you can't tell. but large white tips to primaries suggest at least a 5cy or 6cy.
3. 4cy or 5cy (not reliably to tell witohut an open wing). note small white primary tips and dark centered tertials.
4. 4cy or 5cy type.
5. 4cy.
6. 4cy
7. 3cy
8. 2cy

Thank you!

This is harder than I thought. Picture #2 and there is a lot of black and I cannot see any red at all. Interesting with the large white tips to primaries suggest at least a 5cy or 6cy. Yes, the same I see on the adults. Picture #3 have only small white tips.

I will study this again

Thanks again, appreciated

Kind regards and happy birding
Aladdin