Mew Gull? (Normandy, France) (1 Viewer)

Gduff · Sep 28, 2015

I'm almost sure it's a Mew Gull but some details make me think of a Ring-billed Gull :
- narrow white crescent on tertials
- no white crescent on scapulars
- very small white tip on outer primaries
- fine markings on the head

What do you think?

Thank you

lou salomon · Sep 28, 2015

hi gduff,

it's a common gull (larus canus) allright. bill is too weak, tertial crescent too wide, leg colour too dull etc. for a RBG.

SteveClifton · Sep 28, 2015

It's an adult Common/Mew Gull (L canus) in winter plumage as you thought.

Small stubby, relatively fine bill, cute/dainty rounded head, dark iris all point to Common rather than Ring-billed.

What's more, although quite difficult to judge accurately in photos, the upper parts grey tone looks too dark for RBG.

It appears to be missing the two outer-most primaries which both should have large mirrors.

edit: Lou beat me to it!

lou salomon · Sep 28, 2015

SteveClifton said:
It appears to be missing the two outer-most primaries which both should have large mirrors.
!

outer primaries are still growing, you can see p10 tip with its large mirror right beyond the primary coverts in pic 4 and p9 tip with its mirror visible in pic 3.

Gduff · Sep 28, 2015

SteveClifton said:
It's an adult Common/Mew Gull (L canus) in winter plumage as you thought.

Small stubby, relatively fine bill, cute/dainty rounded head, dark iris all point to Common rather than Ring-billed.

What's more, although quite difficult to judge accurately in photos, the upper parts grey tone looks too dark for RBG.

It appears to be missing the two outer-most primaries which both should have large mirrors.

edit: Lou beat me to it!

"Primaries missing" ; does that mean they are moulting or just missing ?
I think it's that thing that made me think of a RBG.

Thanks for the fast answer

SteveClifton · Sep 28, 2015

Gduff said:
"Primaries missing" ; does that mean they are moulting or just missing ?
I think it's that thing that made me think of a RBG.

Thanks for the fast answer

They are re-growing after moulting, as Lou just said above

Gduff · Sep 28, 2015

SteveClifton said:
They are re-growing after moulting, as Lou just said above

Hehe ok, I was writing my message when he answered

Mew Gull? (Normandy, France) (1 Viewer)

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