Caspian Gull L. cachinnans
This
first-winter Caspian Gull was photographed on
This bird shows a rather dark wingcoverts and boldly marked
scapulars, contrasting with its white head and underparts.
In full flight the underwing of this
bird look rather dark as a result of the bold markings on the tips of the underwing coverts. Compare this picture to the one below,
which shows the bird in a less active posture. It seems very likely that a more
darker-toned 1st winter like this one can also show a more heavily marked underwing.
Note that the underwing is in fact pale
and that the darker tones are caused by the bold tips of the underwingcoverts. In Yellow-legged Gull the underwingcoverts are usually much darker toned. The
axillaries, however, are unusually heavily marked for CG, but this doesn't
stand in the way of its identification.
The
upperwing is typical for CG. Note the pale-tipped
greater coverts and the 'venetian blinds' wingpanel.
In flight the tailband of this individual is
typical but broader than one would expect with more black marking on the uppertail. The fine barring on the outer tailfeathers seem typical for Caspian Gull
Back to the gull-index
Back to the main page