Black-headed Gull - Larus ridibundus
Juvenile
Black-headed Gull - juveniles, Paglesham Lagoon, Essex June 2008
The following sequence of images are of recently fledged birds. Note the variability of the plumage tones; ranging from buffish-orange white with grey to almost chocolate brown. All however have pale pinkish bills with diffuse dark tips.
Black-headed Gull - Juvenile, Paglesham Lagoon, Essex June 2008
In these flight shots note the following:
- White collar and white spot above and behind the eye
- gingery-orange body tones
- Black tail band with white tail base and white upper-tail coverts
- Pale grey lesser coverts
- Brown, pale fringed, median coverts
- Pale grey greater coverts with dusky tips
- Dark tipped greater Primary coverts
- Dusky tipped secondaries
- Black tipped primaries (dark trailing edge)
- Pale grey basal two thirds of the primaries
- Black outer primaries