very dark Gull (1 Viewer)

[Michał Jaro]

Hi,
Another gull-related request - would this dark brown gull be argentatus?
Please help ! (Poland - Podhale)

 

[Alexander Stöhr]

Hello Michal,

nice a juvenile Gull. Tfs! My thoughts:

• with such a dark bird, a LBBG comes into my mind. But it isnt one imo, pattern on inner primaries and more?
• are the greater coverts uniform darkish without any pattern? Difficult to be sure here
• shape of the head and bill gives this bird a Caspian Gull jizz imo.
• after seeing this, I think I can make out a paler head and a contrasting darkish shawl (a quite frequent pattern for 1cy Gulls in NE-Germany, with Caspian, Herring and hybrids the usual suspects)
• same with the underwing coverts: although brownish (enhanced by underexposure?), they seems unbarred and still quite pale on the thumbnail
• I have a deja-vue feeling here. A similar bird comes into my mind, that was identified as a darkish Caspian Gull by Lou before?

Yes, I am thinking this might well be a Caspian x Herring Gull hybrid (or even a very dark Caspian Gull???). But Herring gull influence is so easy to suggest in Poland you know.

And now please wait for ID. Thanks from me too!

 

[Alexander Stöhr]

Èdit: threads are here:

large gulls - Poland

juv gulls - Poland

Hello I recognize large gulls poorly. Help with these couple of juv. gulls. yellow-legged (0717) and herring?

www.birdforum.net

Thanks Lou!

 

[Michał Jaro]

thanks!

And one thought, I don't think I've ever posted such a dark gull on this forum

 

[Michał Jaro]

regarding the quoted post - that gull (earlier) is much less dark

 

[Alexander Stöhr]

Hello again Michal,

yes you are right. Its a really darker bird and my memory wasnt right. Sorry!

Therefore a an even stronger candidate for an Caspian x Herring Gull hybrid?