Field identification guide Field identification guide to large gulls in Israelto large gulls in Israel

Stephen DaroriStephen Darori

Part 1Part 1

This presentation was created to assist birders to identify mainly adult large gulls in Israel

Some general notes:Some general notes:• Images are not a replacement to identification in the fieldImages are not a replacement to identification in the field

• Image processing often alters colors.Image processing often alters colors.

• Slide 7 aims to compare Slide 7 aims to compare typicaltypical mantle colors to Kodak grey mantle colors to Kodak grey scale, scale, but in no way to determine the exact Kodak scale number of but in no way to determine the exact Kodak scale number of each taxa.each taxa. • Some taxa show significant variation in mantle colors, which Some taxa show significant variation in mantle colors, which can can also be affected by light conditions also be affected by light conditions

• Gulls show much variation in size, colors, and even in major ID Gulls show much variation in size, colors, and even in major ID marks. marks. Do not be afraid to leave gulls unidentified, for instance: Do not be afraid to leave gulls unidentified, for instance: ““LarusLarus sp.” sp.” “ “heuglini heuglini - type”..- type”..

• Mid January – late March, and especially mid June – mid Mid January – late March, and especially mid June – mid September September are very difficult periods for gull ID, with so many retarted, are very difficult periods for gull ID, with so many retarted, strange, strange, moulting individuals that make ID even more challenging. moulting individuals that make ID even more challenging.

• And finally and above all – don’t fear trying, its great funAnd finally and above all – don’t fear trying, its great fun

Basic gull topographyBasic gull topography

Orbital ring

Iris

Gonys

Secondaries

R6

R1

P5

P9P10

Mirror

Moon

Mirrors

Advanced topography information in the following links : Gull topography 1 , , Gull topography 2

Caspian Gull P10 All – most whiteP9 – mostly white

Black on P10 – P6very little /missing black on P5

Very small amount of black on wingtip (smallest of allYL Gulls)

Armenian Gull

Heuglin’s Gull

White mirror on P10 Black reaches P5 and sometimes P4

Black on P10 – P5

White mirrors on P10 and P9

Medium amount of black on wing tip

Allot of black on wing tip

Yellow-legged GullP10 edge, All – most whiteP9 – white spot

Black on P10 – P5

Wingtip patterns

Large moons at P5-P7

Black reaches P5, sometimes P4 and even P3 (10% of the population)

Head shapesHead shapes

Armenian Gull Yellow-legged Gull

Caspian Gull

Steep forehead, rounded head

Relatively small bill

Massive bill,big gonys

Moderate forehead

Long straight bill

Flat forehead

Heuglin’s Gull

Large bill, prominent gonys

Relatively steep forehead

michahelliscachinnans

heuglini

armenicus

► Moult is one of the most important ID featuresMoult is one of the most important ID features► Large gulls passes a post juvenile moult which is an incomplete moult,Large gulls passes a post juvenile moult which is an incomplete moult,

argenteusargenteus (more south and western) will moult(more south and western) will moult only scapularsonly scapularsargentatus (northmost birds) may even skip the post juvenile moultargentatus (northmost birds) may even skip the post juvenile moult

heuglinheuglinii has a rapid and extensive moult only after 7 months, normally including all has a rapid and extensive moult only after 7 months, normally including all wing coverts, but very often also tail and secondaries and even some random primarieswing coverts, but very often also tail and secondaries and even some random primaries

fuscusfuscus is the most extensive one, very often including primaries as well is the most extensive one, very often including primaries as well

michahellis, armenicusmichahellis, armenicus and to a lesser extent and to a lesser extent cachinnanscachinnans include scapulars and include scapulars and wing coverts which may start as early as August in these southern species.wing coverts which may start as early as August in these southern species.

► First moult is from juvenile -> post-juvenile occurs in autumn and winter First moult is from juvenile -> post-juvenile occurs in autumn and winter The plumage after this post-juvenile moult is often called 1st winter plumageThe plumage after this post-juvenile moult is often called 1st winter plumage

► In spring, a complete moult will take place throughout the summer, which brings birds In spring, a complete moult will take place throughout the summer, which brings birds into 2nd winter' plumageinto 2nd winter' plumage

► Then again, each autumn an incomplete moult, and each summer a complete moult Then again, each autumn an incomplete moult, and each summer a complete moult (discluding (discluding heuglinheuglini and i and fuscusfuscus))

► In general northern and eastern taxa (i.e In general northern and eastern taxa (i.e heugliniheuglini, , fuscusfuscus) moult later than southern ) moult later than southern and western taxa (i.e. and western taxa (i.e. michahellismichahellis))

► Long-distance migrants often moult on wintering groundsLong-distance migrants often moult on wintering grounds► Primary moult begins from center of wing towards tip: P1 to P10 usually one - two Primary moult begins from center of wing towards tip: P1 to P10 usually one - two

feather at a time on both wings, feather at a time on both wings, ► Primaries and their coverts often replaced simultaneouslyPrimaries and their coverts often replaced simultaneously► In principle young birds have dark eyes that become paler as they ageIn principle young birds have dark eyes that become paler as they age► For dipper moult study see the following For dipper moult study see the following Gull topography link

MoultMoult

Comparison of breeding range to moult timing in large gullsComparison of breeding range to moult timing in large gulls

Reproduced with permission of the authors from: Liebers, D., de Knijff, P. and Helbig, Reproduced with permission of the authors from: Liebers, D., de Knijff, P. and Helbig, A.J. (2004). The herring gull complex is not a ring species. A.J. (2004). The herring gull complex is not a ring species. Proc. R. Soc. LondProc. R. Soc. Lond 271: 893- 271: 893-901.901.

Moultstart

North-easterly

michahellis

armenicus

cachinnans

barabensis

intermedius

graellsii

fuscus

heuglini

Adult Gulls – average primary moult datesAdult Gulls – average primary moult dates

MayApr JulJun Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

Michahellis (Israel)

Armenicus (Israel)

cachinnans

P1 P10

P1

P1

P1

P1

P10

P10

Jan Feb Mar

heuglini

fuscus

P10

P10P3P2

fuscus

Moult directionsMoult directions

Moult from Tail R1 (inside)> R6 (Outside) Total of 12feathers, change starts when Primary moult is halfway

Greater coverts GC counted from the inside out, total of 24

Secondaries marked S counted from the outside to the inside, total of 18moult from 1-15 and 18-16(when moult reaches 15 then18 will moult and then 17 till they meet)

Tertials marked as ttTotal of 6 counted and moult from up down

Median coverts MC counted from the inside out, total of 24, counted as % of renewed feathers as well (see above)

Greater P Coverts normally moult simultaneously with Primaries – not used for moult score

10 Primaries, moult frominside out, mark the complete moult

Lesser Coverts, 4 rows, counted for convenience as 24 feathers if for example; 3, 4, 5, 8, 11 are replaced, this is scored as 5 feathers, is 5/24 = 21% -> this is classified as category1-25%, and this is the final outcome. So, missing a single feather is not really influencing the final scores; but if we want to enlarge upon individual birds, we can always take the original scoring sheets and tell the exact scores.

Scapulars are divided as UUS, ULS, LUS and LLS, (upper upper, upper lower, lower upper, lower lower)We calculate % of renewed feathers, so we normally do not point down individual feathers in these tracts. We estimate the % renewed in classes: 0% new, 1-25%, 25-50%, 50-75%, 75-99% and 100% renewed. If a next replacement starts, we repeat this, but then we count 3rd gen feathers.

R1

R6

P10

P5

S1

S15

Yellow-legged Gull - Yellow-legged Gull - Larus michahellisLarus michahellis, adult, halfway through , adult, halfway through primary moultprimary moult

Ma'agan Michael 9/7/10 Gal Shon Ma'agan Michael 9/7/10 Gal Shon ©©

P10P9

P8 P7

P6 starts growing

P5 half grown

Unmoultedsecondaries

P1 - P4 new and fully grown

Primaries moult once a year from inner P1 to outer P10

All old and worn

T1–T3 (also referred as R) (central tail feathers) worn will soon moult

Heuglin’s Gull - Heuglin’s Gull - Larus heugliniLarus heuglini, adult, end of primary moult, adult, end of primary moultAshdod 23/1/10Ashdod 23/1/10

P1-P8 all new

P9 almost full size

P10 half grown

Armenian Gull – Armenian Gull – Larus armenicusLarus armenicusMain ID features at restMain ID features at rest

Bill Bill – rather short, slimmer than – rather short, slimmer than michahellismichahellis and shorter than and shorter than fuscusfuscus, typical adults show , typical adults show 4 colored bill (see slide 9) 4 colored bill (see slide 9)

GonysGonys – medium size, but might look – medium size, but might look confusingly large at short range, and in confusingly large at short range, and in juvenile males.juvenile males.

LegsLegs – from pink in 1 – from pink in 1stst winter to yellow in winter to yellow in adult, but never orange as in adult, but never orange as in michahellismichahellis

EyeEye – dark in most individuals, up to 10% will – dark in most individuals, up to 10% will show pale eye to some extend, but all pale show pale eye to some extend, but all pale eyed individuals will have dark spots on the eyed individuals will have dark spots on the irisiris

SizeSize – smaller and shorter-reared than – smaller and shorter-reared than michahellismichahellis, larger than , larger than fuscusfuscus, but size can , but size can vary from very small females to very large vary from very small females to very large malesmales

Head andHead and mantle Color Colormantle Color Color –– head typically head typically very rounded,very rounded, adults mantle is rather dark adults mantle is rather dark grey, perhaps closer to grey, perhaps closer to heugliniheuglini than to than to michahelismichahelis..11stst autumn birds are seen in Israel from June. autumn birds are seen in Israel from June. From 1From 1stst winter onwards they become much winter onwards they become much paler up to very creamy whitish brown when paler up to very creamy whitish brown when bleachedbleached

Status in IsraelStatus in Israel -- this is the commonest gull in this is the commonest gull in most of Israel year-round, with large winter most of Israel year-round, with large winter concentrations in fishponds, often inland.concentrations in fishponds, often inland.From end May – September juveniles are seen From end May – September juveniles are seen in Israel (especially Ma’agan Michael) and are in Israel (especially Ma’agan Michael) and are certainly very confusing to identify from certainly very confusing to identify from same age same age michahellismichahellis..

Main ID features of adult in flightMain ID features of adult in flight

WingWing – adults show dark grey upperparts, – adults show dark grey upperparts, black on primaries usually to P5 and black on primaries usually to P5 and mirrors on P10 only, nevertheless aboutmirrors on P10 only, nevertheless about20% of the individuals may show black up 20% of the individuals may show black up to P4 and 10% will even show some black to P4 and 10% will even show some black on P3. on P3. Same works for mirror on P9Same works for mirror on P9

11stst - 2 - 2ndnd winter birds show very pale winter birds show very pale upperwing, especially median coverts and upperwing, especially median coverts and inner primariesinner primaries

For more information: For more information: press here

Armenian Gull Armenian Gull –– Larus armenicusLarus armenicus, adult spring, Ashdod 9/3/10, adult spring, Ashdod 9/3/10

Armenian Gull – Armenian Gull – Larus armenicusLarus armenicus, adult winter, Ma’agan Michael , adult winter, Ma’agan Michael 1/10/091/10/09

Medium-short bill,steep forehead androunded head

Black band on bill characteristic in winter

Most adults show dark eye

Relatively dark mantlelighter than heuglinidarker than michahellis, and cachinnans

Armenian Gull - Armenian Gull - Larus armenicus,Larus armenicus, Adult, Ma Adult, Ma’’agan Michael agan Michael 13/9/1013/9/10

Note the wide black band on the bill tip

Paler eyed bird with dark spots on the iris can be seen in about 10% of the population

This bird is in the process of the complete moult that takes place from late June – November

Armenian Gull – Armenian Gull – Larus armenicusLarus armenicus, adult winter, Ashdod , adult winter, Ashdod 6/1/106/1/10

Black on P10 – P5 or P4* up to 10% will show

some black on P3 as well

P10 – white mirror* some birds will show

mirror on P9 as well

Much black on wing tip

Armenian Gull Armenian Gull –– Larus armenicus,Larus armenicus, 11stst summer birds, Ma summer birds, Ma’’agan Michael agan Michael 14/4/0914/4/09

Often dark markings around eyeand on ear coverts

Armenian Gull Armenian Gull –– Larus armenicus,Larus armenicus, 1 1stst winter winterAshdod 12/9/08Ashdod 12/9/08

Armenian Gull Armenian Gull –– Larus armenicus,Larus armenicus, 1 1stst summer, Ma summer, Ma’’agan Michael agan Michael 24/4/0924/4/09

Armenian Gull Armenian Gull –– Larus armenicus,Larus armenicus, 1 1stst summer, Ma summer, Ma’’agan Michael agan Michael 14/4/0914/4/09

Between mid April – late August heavily worn and very bleached

Inner primaries P1-P3 are new

This armenicus is in its complete moult stage, started perhaps in early march

Central median coverts are new

Armenian Gull Armenian Gull –– Larus armenicus,Larus armenicus, advanced 2 advanced 2ndnd winter, winter, Ashdod 02/10/09Ashdod 02/10/09

Yellow-legged Gull - Yellow-legged Gull - Larus michahellisLarus michahellisMain ID features at restMain ID features at rest

Bill Bill –– massive, yellow-orange in summer and massive, yellow-orange in summer and early autumn, longer than early autumn, longer than armenicusarmenicus but not but not as as cachinnanscachinnans, quite similar to , quite similar to heugliniheuglini

GonysGonys –– prominent prominent

Legs Legs -- thick yellow orange in summer, thick yellow orange in summer, yellow yellow –– pale yellow in early autumn pale yellow in early autumn

EyeEye –– large, pale to white iris, orbital ring red large, pale to white iris, orbital ring red in summer (when most common in Israel)in summer (when most common in Israel)

SizeSize –– large gull, same size group of h large gull, same size group of heuglinieuglini and male and male cachinnanscachinnans

Mantle ColorMantle Color –– moderately pale mantle moderately pale mantle colors, darker than colors, darker than cachinnanscachinnans paler than paler than armenicusarmenicus

Status in IsraelStatus in Israel –– summer and autumn visitor summer and autumn visitor from mid April from mid April –– 3 3rdrd week of July. week of July. The only breeding gull in Israel, from Tel The only breeding gull in Israel, from Tel Aviv Aviv to Rosh Hanikra, about 20 pairs estimated to Rosh Hanikra, about 20 pairs estimated to breed in Israel (May - July).to breed in Israel (May - July).It is most dominant amongst sea shore gulls It is most dominant amongst sea shore gulls (only (only armenicusarmenicus can also be seen during this can also be seen during this period).period).Resident population in the Tel Aviv area and Resident population in the Tel Aviv area and Maagan Michael.Maagan Michael.On the 24.10.10 and onwards a group of 26- On the 24.10.10 and onwards a group of 26- 30 birds of all ages were found by Keren Or 30 birds of all ages were found by Keren Or in the Ramat Gan Safari,in the Ramat Gan Safari,2 of the Tel Aviv Univ. ringed juveniles were 2 of the Tel Aviv Univ. ringed juveniles were seen amongst them which confirms that seen amongst them which confirms that these are the Zoological Garden population, these are the Zoological Garden population, which also winter in Israel (steady which also winter in Israel (steady population) population)

Main ID features of adult in flightMain ID features of adult in flight

Wing Wing –– black wingtip with white black wingtip with white mirrors on P10 and P9, black reaches P5mirrors on P10 and P9, black reaches P5

When comparingWhen comparing michahellis michahellis and and heugliniheuglini both both species share similar amount of black on wing, species share similar amount of black on wing, though though heugliniheuglini shows white on P10 only shows white on P10 only

JuvenileJuvenile –– it is important to further discuss the it is important to further discuss the ID of juveniles and 1ID of juveniles and 1stst autumn birds of this autumn birds of this species, as they are seen in Israel from mid species, as they are seen in Israel from mid June June –– mid September, mostly seen among mid September, mostly seen among juveniles and 1juveniles and 1stst autumn autumn armenicusarmenicus that also that also accumulate along the Israeli Mediterranean accumulate along the Israeli Mediterranean coast (Rosh Hanikra, Acre, Atilt, Macoast (Rosh Hanikra, Acre, Atilt, Ma’’agan agan Michael) during the same period.Michael) during the same period.

In general it is a larger bird than In general it is a larger bird than armenicusarmenicus, , bill bill massive and gonys much strongermassive and gonys much stronger

Colors are very similar at this age and unlike Colors are very similar at this age and unlike mentioned in the book of Gulls (Olsen and mentioned in the book of Gulls (Olsen and Larsson 2004), the juveniles are not Larsson 2004), the juveniles are not much paler, such difference can be seen only much paler, such difference can be seen only from 2from 2ndnd winter winter

These 2 species are not as easy to distinguish These 2 species are not as easy to distinguish at this age as often described though bill and at this age as often described though bill and head structure being a reliable feature.head structure being a reliable feature.

DonDon’’t confuse with 1t confuse with 1stst winter winter fuscusfuscus that are that are always darkalways dark

For further information: For further information: Press Here

Yellow-legged Gull - Yellow-legged Gull - Larus michahellisLarus michahellis, adult summer (early autumn) , adult summer (early autumn) plumage, Nachlieli Island Rosh Hanikra 17/9/09plumage, Nachlieli Island Rosh Hanikra 17/9/09

Mantle and wing color lighter than armenicus darker than cachinnans

Yellow-legged Gull - Yellow-legged Gull - Larus michahellisLarus michahellis, 4, 4thth summer, Tel Aviv University summer, Tel Aviv University Zoological Garden (natural population) 22/5/10Zoological Garden (natural population) 22/5/10

Massive bill, bright yellow year-round(in adults)

The very last coverts of a young bird

P10 - WhiteP9 - white mirror

Black onP10 – P5

Massive head and bill

Yellow-legged Gull - Yellow-legged Gull - Larus michahellisLarus michahellis, adult, summer plumage, adult, summer plumageMa'agan Michael 22/5/09Ma'agan Michael 22/5/09

Yellow-legged Gull Yellow-legged Gull –– Larus michaellis,Larus michaellis, Tel Aviv University Zoological Tel Aviv University Zoological Garden (natural population) 5/6/10Garden (natural population) 5/6/10

Yellow-legged Gull Yellow-legged Gull –– Larus michahellisLarus michahellis, winter plumage, winter plumage (fairly rare winterer in Israel) Ashdod 30/10/09 (fairly rare winterer in Israel) Ashdod 30/10/09

Yellow-legged Gull – Yellow-legged Gull – Larus michahellisLarus michahellis, winter plumage, winter plumage (fairly rare winterer in Israel) Jaffa Port 4/2/10, (fairly rare winterer in Israel) Jaffa Port 4/2/10, Yoav Perlman Yoav Perlman ©©

Larus michahellisLarus michahellis 2 2ndnd CY Ashdod 16/11/09 CY Ashdod 16/11/09

Yellow-legged Gull - Yellow-legged Gull - Larus michahellisLarus michahellis, 2, 2ndnd summer (3CY), summer (3CY), extensive extensive moultmoult

Safari, Ramat Gan (natural population) 4/6/10Safari, Ramat Gan (natural population) 4/6/10

Yellow-legged Gull - Yellow-legged Gull - Larus michahellisLarus michahellis, fledgling, Tel Aviv , fledgling, Tel Aviv University Zoological Garden (natural population) 18/6/10University Zoological Garden (natural population) 18/6/10

Yellow-legged Gull - Yellow-legged Gull - Larus michahellisLarus michahellis, Fledgling, Tel Aviv , Fledgling, Tel Aviv University Zoological Garden (natural population) 18/6/10University Zoological Garden (natural population) 18/6/10

Yellow-legged Gull - Yellow-legged Gull - Larus michahellisLarus michahellis, adult and 2 , adult and 2 fledglings, fledglings,

Ma'agan Michael 6/6/08Ma'agan Michael 6/6/08

Caspian Gull - Larus cachinnansMain ID features at restMain ID features at rest

BillBill –– long and very straight. long and very straight. Yellow in winter changes to yellow-orangeYellow in winter changes to yellow-orangein spring. Forehead rather flat. in spring. Forehead rather flat. The small head and long bill give an The small head and long bill give an impression of a very long bill impression of a very long bill

GonysGonys –– extremely small and hardly extremely small and hardly noticeable from distance. noticeable from distance.

LegsLegs –– slender, in winter (when mostly seen) slender, in winter (when mostly seen) pale yellow, longer and thicker legs than pale yellow, longer and thicker legs than fuscusfuscus

EyeEye –– Pale to darkish iris (often darkish in Pale to darkish iris (often darkish in spring)spring)

Size and jizzSize and jizz –– quite big, slightly smaller quite big, slightly smaller than than heuglini heuglini but males can be larger than but males can be larger than female female heugliniheuglini..General jizz of a long-reared and slender General jizz of a long-reared and slender gull, with long wings and long, slender billgull, with long wings and long, slender bill

Mantle Color Mantle Color –– The palest of all Israeli gulls, The palest of all Israeli gulls, unmistakable with its pale silver mantle. unmistakable with its pale silver mantle. Shows rather little variation in mantle colorShows rather little variation in mantle color

Status in IsraelStatus in Israel –– a winter gull, very a winter gull, very dominant in northern Israel, especially Acre dominant in northern Israel, especially Acre area where the largest concentrations area where the largest concentrations occur.occur.Few hundreds seen also in Ashdod area Few hundreds seen also in Ashdod area seen from the 1st week of December seen from the 1st week of December –– late late MarchMarch

Main ID features of adult in flightMain ID features of adult in flight

Wing Wing –– adult is easily identified in flight, adult is easily identified in flight, very pale grey upperwing, very little black very pale grey upperwing, very little black on the underwing, though black reaches on the underwing, though black reaches P5. Dominant grey moons on primaries P5. Dominant grey moons on primaries give the impression of very little black on give the impression of very little black on wingtipwingtip

White mirrors on P10 and P9, often totally White mirrors on P10 and P9, often totally white-tippedwhite-tipped

Caspian Gull - Caspian Gull - Larus cachinnansLarus cachinnans,, Ashdod Ashdod 30/1/1030/1/10

Long slender bill in comparison to all adult gulls seen in Israel

Small gonys

Adult uniformly pale mantle, wings and coverts (palest of all Israeli large white-headed gulls)

Caspian Gull - Caspian Gull - Larus cachinnansLarus cachinnans, very large male, very large maleAshdod 19/3/08Ashdod 19/3/08

Comparison between Comparison between cachinnanscachinnans (upper photo) (upper photo) and and michahellismichahellis (lower (lower photo) photo) taken at the same date and taken at the same date and light conditionslight conditions

note the difference in:note the difference in:Head shapeHead shapeBill colorBill colorBill lengthBill lengthLeg colorLeg colorLeg thicknessLeg thicknessUpperparts colorUpperparts colorEye colorEye color Ashdod 11/12/09Ashdod 11/12/09

Caspian Gull - Larus cachinnans, Ashdod 6/1/10

Much white, little black

Caspian Gull - Larus cachinnans, Ashdod 7/3/10

Very easy to identify in flight• P10 + P9 with white tip• black on P10-P5

Very little black on wing tip

Caspian Gull - Larus cachinnans, Ashdod 23/1/10

Adults have pink or yellow legs

Steppe Gull - Steppe Gull - Larus barabensisLarus barabensisMain ID features at rest

Bill Bill –– as this taxon belongs to the as this taxon belongs to the cachinnanscachinnans group, as expected the bill is long and very group, as expected the bill is long and very straight. Most adult birds have 3 colored bill tip straight. Most adult birds have 3 colored bill tip red gonys, black between gonys and tip, and red gonys, black between gonys and tip, and white nail white nail –– bill tip bill tip

GonysGonys –– very small as in very small as in cachinnanscachinnans

LegsLegs –– moderately thin and short, similar to moderately thin and short, similar to fuscusfuscus

EyeEye –– usually dark (but not black) iris, usually dark (but not black) iris, sometimes pale. Eye very small in comparison sometimes pale. Eye very small in comparison to other gulls, and located in the front of the to other gulls, and located in the front of the head (very good ID feature).head (very good ID feature).Thin red orbital ring.Thin red orbital ring.

SizeSize and jizzand jizz–– medium sized gull, intermediate medium sized gull, intermediate between between armenicusarmenicus and small and small cachinnanscachinnans..Often stands in a peculiar 45Often stands in a peculiar 45º posture tilted º posture tilted forward (forward (not mentioned in literature)not mentioned in literature)

Head andHead and mantle Colormantle Color –– moderately dark, moderately dark, bluish touch, intermediate between bluish touch, intermediate between armenicusarmenicus and and heugliniheuglini. Sometimes nape and back of head . Sometimes nape and back of head with faint streakswith faint streaks

Status in IsraelStatus in Israel –– moremore common in autumn common in autumn (mainly November) though can be seen (mainly November) though can be seen frequently in winter and spring too, both in Eilat frequently in winter and spring too, both in Eilat and along the Mediterranean coast (September and along the Mediterranean coast (September –– March) March)

Main ID features of adult in flightMain ID features of adult in flight

Wing Wing –– extensive black primaries, extensive black primaries, reaches P3 (much black) with white reaches P3 (much black) with white mirror on P10mirror on P10

Steppe Gull - Steppe Gull - Larus barabensisLarus barabensis, bird , bird rehabilitated in NPA’s rehabilitated in NPA’s AfekAfek Wildlife Wildlife Hospital,Hospital,

ringed and released by Yoav Perlman at Ashdod seashore 16/2/08ringed and released by Yoav Perlman at Ashdod seashore 16/2/08

Long, straight billresembles cachinnans

Small eye in comparison to all other YL Gulls

Steppe Gull Steppe Gull –– Larus barabensisLarus barabensis, Acre sea shore 7/2/09, Acre sea shore 7/2/09

Steppe Gull Steppe Gull –– Larus barabensisLarus barabensis, Ashdod 16/3/10, Ashdod 16/3/10

Steppe Gull - Steppe Gull - Larus barabensis,Larus barabensis, Eilat north beach 1/3/08 Eilat north beach 1/3/08

P10 - white mirrorP9 – usually no mirror

Black reaches P3

Steppe Gull Steppe Gull –– Larus barabensisLarus barabensis, Ashdod 16/3/10, Ashdod 16/3/10

P3 shows black

P4 P5P6

P7P8

P9

P10Bluish mantle and wings

Herring Gull Herring Gull –– Larus argentatusLarus argentatusMain ID features at rest

General Notes General Notes –– ssp. ssp. argentatusargentatus (North (North Europe) is more likely to occur in Israel Europe) is more likely to occur in Israel (one record, see notes below).(one record, see notes below).ssp. ssp. argenteusargenteus (West Europe, mainly (West Europe, mainly England) was never recorded in Israel and England) was never recorded in Israel and is less likely to occur. is less likely to occur.

HeadHead and Bill and Bill –– head and nape show head and nape show extensive extensive brownbrown marking in winter marking in winter plumage, plumage,

GonysGonys –– noticeable with red spot year noticeable with red spot year round, round, in winter shows faint black ring on bill tipin winter shows faint black ring on bill tip

LegsLegs –– pink both in pink both in argentatusargentatus and and argenteusargenteus

EyeEye –– very pale white very pale white

SizeSize –– large gull, as big as large gull, as big as michahellismichahellis

Mantle ColorMantle Color –– pale grey, resembles pale grey, resembles michahellismichahellisdarker indarker in argentatus argentatus than inthan in argenteus argenteus

Status in IsraelStatus in Israel –– ssp. ssp. argentatusargentatus recorded only once by Ehud Dovrat recorded only once by Ehud Dovrat et al.et al. on 3/1/1987on 3/1/1987Ashdod former sewage pondsAshdod former sewage ponds

Main ID features of adult in flight

WingWing –– black reaches P5,mirrors on black reaches P5,mirrors on P10 and P9. In P10 and P9. In argentatusargentatus P10 is white P10 is white to the tip. to the tip.

In In Argenteus Argenteus P10 black at tipP10 black at tip

argentatus argentatus shows darker mantle than shows darker mantle than argenteusargenteus and and lessless black on wingtip black on wingtip

Herring Gull - Larus argentatus argentatus, North France 3/1/2002Image by Mars Muusse ©

head streaking, shared only by immature heuglini and fuscus, in such extent

mantle colors Kodak grey scale 5-7

Very pale eye

Pink Legs

Larus argentatus argentatus, 1st CY 26/11/2006 Belgium

(Ringed at North Russia) Image by Mars Muusse ©

Larus argentatus argentatus wing pattern, U.K 6/1/92

Open wings images by Peter Stewarte ©

Larus argentatus Larus argentatus argentatusargentatus, 3, 3rdrd CY, the Netherlands, 31/12/2008 CY, the Netherlands, 31/12/2008 Image by Mars Muusse © Image by Mars Muusse ©

Herring Gull - Herring Gull - Larus argentatus Larus argentatus argenteusargenteusBrighton England 26/11/08Brighton England 26/11/08

Very pale eyeBrown marking on head and nape

Pale mantle colorsKodak grey scale 4-6

Pink Legs