Large gulls in Tanzania (1 Viewer)

Valéry Schollaert · Jun 23, 2019

Hi guys !

This is an old photo, from September 2010 on Lukuba Island, Lake Victoria.

At the time, very excited by the find of the first Yellow-legged Gull of the country, I didn't check much and just put them down as LBBG.

I now wonder if they are fuscus or heuglini and also curious about respective age/moult stage of those two individuals.

Thanks

lou salomon · Jun 24, 2019

hi valery,

i find it rather hard to decide if the apparently pale mantled bird is a female baltic gull or a heuglini. fresh mantle and coverts of baltic gull in strong light can appear surprizingly pale at times. still these would be very pale for nominate fuscus, so, also with its long greenish yellow legs i'd call it a 2cy female type heuglini.
the bird in the back seems to be a (male type) 2cy baltic gull, retarded.

Valéry Schollaert · Jun 24, 2019

lou salomon said:
hi valery,

i find it rather hard to decide if the apparently pale mantled bird is a female baltic gull or a heuglini. fresh mantle and coverts of baltic gull in strong light can appear surprizingly pale at times. still these would be very pale for nominate fuscus, so, also with its long greenish yellow legs i'd call it a 2cy female type heuglini.
the bird in the back seems to be a (male type) 2cy baltic gull, retarded.

Is an heuglini, even a female, can be so slim, thin beaked and slender compared to a fuscus ? I had in mind that heuglini was larger.

I might have a couple of more photos from Sultanat of Oman for you, barabensis / heuglini... :smoke:

lou salomon · Jun 24, 2019

looking forward to them, valery, but as you know they are tricky o

and yes, females of a larger, more massive taxon can well be much more slender than males of a generally smaller, elegant taxon, like in baltic and heuglin's.

Valéry Schollaert · Jun 24, 2019

lou salomon said:
looking forward to them, valery, but as you know they are tricky o
and yes, females of a larger, more massive taxon can well be much more slender than males of a generally smaller, elegant taxon, like in baltic and heuglin's.

Thanks again Lou ! :t:

Large gulls in Tanzania (1 Viewer)

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