Larus delawarensis
First winter
December 2003
Reykjavik, Iceland
Identifying first winter individuals like this fine bird should not pose too many problems. These excellent pictures show several good Ring-billed Gull features; advanced tertial moult (which would be extremely advanced for a Mew Gull Larus canus canus in Northern Europe at this time of year), distinctive bicoloured bill, shape of lesser covert centres and arrowshaped spots on the upper breast. Together this makes it a classic Ring-billed Gull in European standards.
Posted 31.03.2004
