3rd gen scaps on 1st winter Ylg?

[Rui_Caratão]

This amazing gull as been seen in Porto area, Portugal. 3rd generation very pale scapulars in what it seems to be a 1st winter Ylg is desconcertating...
Any opinions regarding age and ID???

http://img210.imageshack.us/img210/5836/sam1456s.jpg
http://img207.imageshack.us/img207/1728/sam1447l.jpg
http://img813.imageshack.us/img813/6836/sam1452.jpg
http://img37.imageshack.us/img37/2890/sam1459.jpg

regards,
Rui

[lou bertalan]

This amazing gull as been seen in Porto area, Portugal. 3rd generation very pale scapulars in what it seems to be a 1st winter Ylg is desconcertating...
Any opinions regarding age and ID???

http://img210.imageshack.us/img210/5836/sam1456s.jpg
http://img207.imageshack.us/img207/1728/sam1447l.jpg
http://img813.imageshack.us/img813/6836/sam1452.jpg
http://img37.imageshack.us/img37/2890/sam1459.jpg

regards,
Rui

hi rui,

an amazing bird. it seems to have a disturbed metabolism and the plain whitish scapulars might even be leucism? and not necessarily 3rd gen. no covert is replaced and even scapular moult is not finished, though i think it is indeed the most retarded mich i ever seen.

cheers

lou

[Rui_Caratão]

Are you sure it could be leucism, in one of the photos is visible a very pale bluish/grey tinge very similar with Black headed gull scaps...did you noticed the orange on gonys???
http://img684.imageshack.us/img684/8739/sam1437cf.jpg

[Dave]

I agree with Lou that looks like a case of leucism. Certainly that seems more probable, especially since this bird has some obvious pigment issues in its bill.

Dave

[Rui_Caratão]

That should probably be the case, thanks Dave and lou!!!

no covert is replaced and even scapular moult is not finished, though i think it is indeed the most retarded mich i ever seen.

Probably not so retarded, but this is the most typical january 1st winter "lusitanius", regarding moult
http://i58.photobucket.com/albums/g279/ ... resize.jpg

regards,
Rui