Putative michahellis from Denmark 31/10-2009

[RSNaarhus]

Merry X-mas.

I would very much appreciate some comments on a bird seen on Rømø, Denmark 31/10-09: http://aarhusbirder.blogspot.com/2009/1 ... gulls.html.

Best wishes, Rune Sø Neergaard

[JanJ]

Like Rune I would wish for more black on the wingtip, that is to say, at least on p9-7, not nessecarily as much as on this one:

http://www.pbase.com/stephaubry/image/74435789

The dark mark on p5 I would be content with for michahellis, however an almost all white tip to p10 is not exclusivly an argentatus character.
All features put together - it could well be an argentatus.
Wingtip pattern are variable, both in michahellis, argentatus/argenteus and sometimes you need the whole set of fetures to be able to make a positive identification depending what ssp of argentatus (if that is the one to compare with),you are dealing with.

http://waarneming.nl/fotonew/7/102377.jpg

http://waarneming.nl/fotonew/8/119238.jpg

Birds like this can confuse:

http://www.pbase.com/stephaubry/image/74225990

JanJ

[Theo Muusse]

Wing tip pattern, headshape, billshape, mantle colour, pattern of headstreaking, I vote for michahellis.

Theo Muusse

[Ruud Altenburg]

If mantle colour in the picture together with the argentatus is not deceiving and it really was a hint darker this is a very good pointer to michahellis. See this probable argentatus, which seemingly can only be identified by that feature.

A fully white tip to P10 does occur in michahellis, e.g. see the second bird on this page.

[marsmuusse]

It seems P9 is still slightly shorter than P8 and P10 is obviously not fully grown. Not the best moult score for michahellis at X-mas...

[JanJ]

It seems P9 is still slightly shorter than P8 and P10 is obviously not fully grown. Not the best moult score for michahellis at X-mas...

...but quite alright at the end of October.

[marsmuusse]

All right, I missed that date in the text. Execute me!