gary 30/03/2008 23:04
Vega Gull
[img]http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y248/garychow/VegaGull1stwinter.jpg[/img]
As identified by Geoff C, this is a first winter Vega Gull
[img]http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y248/garychow/vegaandheuglini.jpg[/img]
The right juvenile is Vega but the left juvenile is not. Very confusing!!
Mai Po
29.3.2008
Tony 1/04/2008 00:40
is mine 1st winter as well??
how to identify? by the deep eye, and darker belly?
gary 1/04/2008 00:59
It's actually the same bird, it seems to be the only juvenile with darker breast.
Sorry, I have no idea how to identify this gull.
Gary
cgeoff 1/04/2008 08:54
Vega Gull in its first winter can be identified in HK by the following features:
rather pale and uniformly-patterned greater coverts showing no moult contrast;
pale inner primaries visible in flight;
tail band that on average is slightly narrower than heuglini, and also, on average, rather browner;
slightly bulkier and shorter-winged structure than heuglini (not as marked as Slaty-backed in either respect);
late in the winter, relatively darker underparts and somewhat darker base to the bill.
The first two features should be visible on all birds, I believe, if only to rule out the possibility of hybrid origin. Not all the remaining features will necessarily be visible on all birds.
Geoff
cchristina 1/04/2008 13:51
Also the pic of Vega Gull 1st Winter
[img]http://images4.fotop.net/albums2/yinming/waterbird/image795.jpg[/img]