Gull ID, Iran (1 Viewer)

[ehsan]

The left adult should be barabensis with black markings on P4 and even P3 but what about the right one with most of the P10 is white?
Is there any article or sth dealing with cachinnans X barabensis hybrids?

Is the first winter one a Caspian Gull?

I photographed the adult ones in an inland wetland near Tehran and the immature one on the shores of the Caspian Sea.

Thank you in advance

 

[KenM]

I’ll take a stab at the immature bird (last 3 images) and agree with your Caspian Gull.

Cheers

 

[KenM]

Thought I’d bump this for ehsan, as he’s a regular contributor to this forum from a region that most of us can’t access. Kinda feel he deserves more of a response than he’s got on this particular thread.

Cheers

 

[Muppit17]

Thought I’d bump this for ehsan, as he’s a regular contributor to this forum from a region that most of us can’t access. Kinda feel he deserves more of a response than he’s got on this particular thread.

Cheers

There is some information on www.gull-research.org. It covers the integration/hybrid of barabensis & cachinnans in Eastern Kazakhstan.

I recall that I mentioned this in an earlier post. I don't find it easy to navigate the website, however the information is phenomenal, if not highly confusing. Have visited a colony in the area I can say from direct experience that the mix of features left me more confused. The shift of barabensis to be a ssp of fucus has not helped IMO.