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Baltic Gull (fuscus)
IMAGES:
DESCRIPTION (not correct yet; needs revisions):
First Cycle
Adult
BALTIC GULL (20-24"; 49-50") fuscus
| BILL SHAPE: | |||
| HEAD SHAPE: | |||
| WING EXTENSTION: | |||
| POSTURE/HABITS: | |||
| FIRST WINTER | SECOND WINTER | ADULT WINTER | |
| BILL COLOR: | black; no pale base until summer | variable; usually pale w/ black subterm area | dark yellow w/ red or orange-red gon spot; pale tip |
| LEG COLOR: | dull flesh | flesh or yellowish-flesh | pale to dark yellow |
| IRIS/ORB RING: | dark | dark or pale | pale yellow; orb ring red |
| HEAD: | rather pale, w/ dark mottling or streaking around eye, auriculars, and rear crown; young birds have solid blackish patch from front of eye to auriculars | white w/ thin streaks over crown and aurs; darker streaks on nape and neck sides | extensively streaked w/ fine lines over crown and face; thicker streaks on nape and neck sides to upper breast |
| UNDERPARTS: | blackish mottling from lower nape and neck sides to breast sides and flanks; belly paler; undt covs spotted | white w/ extensive dark streaking or mottling on breast sides and flanks | white |
|
PRIMARIES (folded): |
blackish | blackish | A-spots evenly spaced except 9-10 closer; all are smaller than eye |
|
PRIMARIES (in flight): |
blackish above and below | blackish above and below | medium mirror on P10, set back from tip; black band on P5; often dark mark on P4; gray area quite dark from below |
|
SECONDARIES (in flight): |
blackish above and below w/ very narrow pale fringe | dark above and below w/ pale fringe | adult gray w/ broad white trailing edge about 1/2 bill length; strong contrast with gray area below |
| TERTIALS: | very dark brown w/ crisp white edge; may have diffuse pale area near tip or small notches on sides | dark gray w/ large pale marbled tips | adult gray w/ large white crescent about 2/3 bill length |
| GREATER COVERTS: | solid dark brown-black w/ obvious pale fringe and subterminal spot; more barred and spotted on inner feathers; appears as a dark bar in flight | mottled adult gray and brown | adult gray |
| LESSER & MED COVERTS: | rather dark brown w/ pale edges, creating a scaled look (very bold in young birds); muddy later in winter | adult gray w/ dark subterm anchors | adult gray |
| SCAPULARS: | similar to med,les covs | adult gray w/ dark centers | adult gray w/ little or no white crescent |
| BACK: | similar to med,les covs | adult gray w/ dark centers | adult gray is nearly black, but may fade to have a brownish hue |
| RUMP: | appears quite pale; white with some dark mottling | white | white |
| TAIL: | large black band w/ pale fringe; all but inner retri- ces w/ extensive irreg pale barring at bases; outer- most webs white w/ dark bands near tip | large black subterm band w/ extensive marbled base; outermost webs white | white |