Large gull, Braunschweig, Germany, 3 April 2022 (1 Viewer)

[Joern Lehmhus]

Stood out by very slightly darker grey on mantle from all other large gulls at the site (Herrig, Caspian, and undefined birds). Which species?

 

[lou salomon]

'mostly' Herring Gull, a 2nd cycle (3cy). quite some smudges around head and neck, well patterned tail (1st pic), a bill which is suboptimal for cachinnans and well, the slightly darker grey upperparts can be found in either of the 3 pale grey taxa in 2nd and 3rd cycles, so nothing indicating a certain taxon. Hard to discern pattern in a swimming bird but alltogether I mostly see a Herring Gull here, possibly with a slight participation of cachinnans in it (odd bill shape, greyish median coverts).

 

[Joern Lehmhus]

Interesting, thanks Lou. I was mainly confused because it was slightly darker than all surroundig large gulls- but the difference wasn´t large. And it certainly doesn´t seem very dark on these photos...