Argentatus Herring Gull

(c) Harry J Lehto and Henry Lehto

There has been some discussiuon of the extent of white coloration in the feathering of 1st winter argentatus Herring Gull populations. We scanned photographs of three Herring Gulls which are quite typical (and in no sense extreme) representatives of paler Herring Gulls that we see in Finland. There is a continuous sequence of Herring Gull plumages from the more common darker Herring Gulls to these pale Herring Gulls. The difference to hybrid Herring x Glaucous gulls i s usually quite obvious.

1st winter Herring Gull

Photographed in Turku, SW Finland
November 21, 1998
Note paler tertials and greater coverts and primary tips in this bird.



1st winter Herring Gull

Photographed in Turku, SW Finland

Note paler tertials and greater coverts in the bird in center compared to the two darker argentatus herring gulls.



1st winter Herring Gull

Photographed in Tarastejärvi, Tampere, SW/C Finland
October 04, 1999
Two photographs of the same individual
Note pale tips to primaries, and tertials





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