Black-headed Gull Chroicocephalus ridibundus(last update: |
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Moderators: BHG 1cy May BHG 2cy January BHG adult January
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Below: First-calendar year Black-headed Gull, October 17, 2009, Nieuwe Rijn, Leiden, The Netherlands (52.157N, 4.494E). Photo: Maarten van Kleinwee.First-calendar year Black-headed Gull in first-winter (formative) plumage. This individual has completed its post-juvenile moult in which all feathers are replaced except those on the wings and in the tail. The body and head are now completely white, leaving a head pattern similar to adults (ear spot and faint bars from ear to ear and eye to eye across the head). The dark tail band, the dark carpal bar on the upper wing, the dark trailing edge of the wing, as well as the orange bill (with black tip) and orange legs are distinctive for this age group. |