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Gull ID from Al Ain, UAE, 14.10.2017. (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter peterarras
- Start date
Bryon Wright
Well-known member
Hi Peter, recalcitrant thing but inclined towards fuscus in the second year of life. The neat all dark tertials with the pure white tips that are very wide are new to me and I have actually spent time perusing these birds in this region. Thought this photo would attract more comments because of this feature.
lou salomon
the birdonist
1cy not 2cy. and there the difficulties start. i don't think it is a fuscus fuscus, white tertial crescent is wide, bill is slightly stronger and shorter though it is a female type and thus harder to take as an ID feature, but especially inner webs of inner primaries too pale. also, the amount of replaced scaps is not so good for baltic gull. but it fits steppe gull (which should be anyway more common at al ain). heuglini could be very similar but usually is pristine juvenile at this time of year. so, mainly the amount of replaced scapulars strongly point towards larus fuscus barabensis, steppe gull. so does the mew gull like head jizz.
Bryon Wright
Well-known member
Thanks Lou,
Al Ain is an inland desert oasis, gulls used to hang around the big cat enclosures sometimes. This location is of course nearer to the barabenis populations on the UAE coast as you imply. Are you both reasonably sure this not a female type fuscus heuglini with delicate proportions? It seems so feather perfect, all over, for a ICY. Finally do you think the blocked in all dark single tertial is concealing the partially notched tertials underneath?
Al Ain is an inland desert oasis, gulls used to hang around the big cat enclosures sometimes. This location is of course nearer to the barabenis populations on the UAE coast as you imply. Are you both reasonably sure this not a female type fuscus heuglini with delicate proportions? It seems so feather perfect, all over, for a ICY. Finally do you think the blocked in all dark single tertial is concealing the partially notched tertials underneath?
For As far as we know about these two taxa, I'd also choose barabensis, but it's the striking freshness of the tertials which is most disturbing (and the relatively fresh coverts). Also scap pattern with those darkish scaps recalls a "dark mantled" gull pattern. As for moult, Barabensis could even be more advanced in moult than this bird. So An advanced heuglini is impossible to rule out and might be a very good option for this bird
Alex Boldrini
Alex Boldrini
