1cy mich?

[Strahil]

Dear all,

I am trying to clarify aging in gulls, but how I see this it won't be so easy!

For this bird I have several questions: is this michahellis? (:D) Is it 1cy? and the last one: why it has moulted GC (some of them) before the others coverts?


btw the pictures are made today (11.11.2014) in NE Bulgaria

Thank you in advance!

Strahil

[lou bertalan]

hi strahil,

1. yes, michahellis
2. yes, 1cy.
3. most coverts are replaced to 2nd generation ones, only a few inner lesser, median and greater coverts are still juvenile. even tertials are 2nd generation, so quite an advanced bird. they typically moult inner coverts first, often even greater ones. but most visible lesser coverts in the two pics showing it on ground are 2nd generation.

lou