Please note: esp. immature large gulls are notoriously difficult to ID due to very variable plumage features and frequent hybridisation with other Larus<\/em> sp.<\/em><\/p>\n – large gull, about the size of European Herring Gull >> VISUAL ID >>>>><\/strong><\/p>\n >> ACOUSTIC ID >>>>><\/strong><\/p>\n – no particular flight calls >> COMPARISON SPECIES >>>>><\/strong><\/p>\n Pallas\u2019s Gull #gulls #laridae<\/p>\n #ornithology #birdmigration #birdID #birdguide #birding #birdwatching #birdsound #westernpalearctic #europe #vismig #flightcalls #middleeast #northernafrica #workinprogress<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" >> GENERAL >>>>> Please note: esp. immature large gulls are notoriously difficult to ID due to very variable plumage features and frequent hybridisation with other Larus sp. – large gull, about the size of European Herring Gull – probably mainly diurnal migrant – migrates singly or in small flocks in formation – long-range dispersal of … Continue reading Caspian Gull
\n– probably mainly diurnal migrant
\n– migrates singly or in small flocks in formation
\n– long-range dispersal of juveniles<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/BIF3218_Larcac_K1-1W_D-Ostsee_20120816_I1Q1491_Putze.jpg\")
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\nCaspian Gull Larus cachinnans<\/em>, 1CY\/1W<\/strong>
\nBIF3218, 16\/08\/2012, Baltic Sea, Mathias Putze
\n– classic 1CY bird in August
\n– minimally marked upper tail coverts and base of rectrices strongly contrasting to broad dark terminal band
\n– diffuse\/crinkled inner primary coverts
\n– velvety lightened inner primaries
\n– when moulting into 1W cachinnans features become more obvious<\/p>\n<\/a>
\nCaspian Gull Larus cachinnans<\/em>, 1CY\/1W<\/strong>
\nBIF3405, 16\/08\/2012, Baltic Sea, Mathias Putze
\n– in 1W plumage body feather markings limited to flanks and neck (hindneck-markings) -> BIF3182
\n– usually light underwing coverts
\n– undertail coverts predominantly clean white with dark tips
\n– flat forehead, high positioned, small looking eye, long parallel-edged bill
\n– ‘drooping belly’<\/p>\n<\/a>
\nCaspian Gull Larus cachinnans<\/em>, 1CY\/1W<\/strong>
\nBIF3409, 03\/11\/2018, Besh Barmag, Azerbaijan, Michael Hei\u00df
\n– classic eastern 1st winter bird
\n– remiges and tail, as well as wing coverts 1st generation
\n– mantle and some wing coverts renewed, grey, with shaft-streak and ‘diamond pattern’
\n– brightened inner primaries
\n– pure white head sharply contrasting to patterned hindneck<\/p>\n<\/a>
\nCaspian Gull Larus cachinnans<\/em>, 1CY\/1W<\/strong>
\nLesser Black-backed Gull Larus fuscus<\/em> ssp., 2CY\/2W<\/strong>
\nBIF3475, 12\/10\/2020, North Sea, Patrick Franke
\n– brightened inner primaries compare with 2CY Lesser Black-backed Gull
\n– appears rather long-winged
\n– light underwing
\n– striking white head<\/p>\n<\/a>
\nCaspian Gull Larus cachinnans<\/em>, 2CY\/1W<\/strong>
\nBIF3223, 19\/04\/2010, Baltic Sea, Mathias Putze
\n– classic 1st winter bird
\n– remiges and tail, as well as wing coverts 1st generation
\n– mantle mostly renewed, unmarked grey, single shaft streaks
\n– remains of the diffuse pattern of the inner primary coverts<\/p>\n<\/a>
\nCaspian Gull Larus cachinnans<\/em>, 2CY\/1W<\/strong>
\nBIF3220, 19\/04\/2010, Baltic Sea, Mathias Putze
\n– classic 1st winter bird
\n– hindneck-markings, pure white head, belly, flanks and rump
\n– tail with broad black terminal band, contrasting to the rest of the colouration
\n– comparatively light underwing
\n– uniform dark, long an fairly pointed bill
\n– eye appears small, bright white ‘eyelids’<\/p>\n<\/a>
\nCaspian Gull Larus cachinnans<\/em>, 2CY\/2W<\/strong>
\nBIF3227, 15\/11\/2011, North Sea Sea, Mathias Putze
\n– wing and tail 2nd generation with rounded tips and white terminal band, respectively
\n– mantle and wing coverts 2nd, partly 3rd generation
\n– hindneck-markings, pure white head, belly, flanks and rump
\n– contrasting broad black terminal band in tail
\n– light inner primaries ‘window’ more pronounced than in 1W with light areas and layered pattern<\/p>\n<\/a>
\nCaspian Gull Larus cachinnans<\/em>, 2CY\/2W<\/strong>
\nBIF3221, 15\/11\/2011, North Sea, Mathias Putze
\n– 2nd generation plumage, but relatively scuffed (note outer primaries and primary coverts)
\n– first single 3rd generation lesser coverts and median coverts grey
\n– long, parallel-edged, pointed bill with noticeable brightening of the base of bill<\/p>\n<\/a>
\nCaspian Gull Larus cachinnans<\/em>, 2CY\/2W<\/strong>
\nBIF3225, 15\/11\/2011, North Sea, Mathias Putze
\n– almost completely white underwing coverts
\n– fairly sharp contrasting neck and flank markings
\n– still rather dark bill<\/p>\n<\/a>
\nCaspian Gull Larus cachinnans<\/em>, 2CY\/2W<\/strong>
\nBIF3229, 03\/11\/2011, Saxony, Germany, Mathias Putze
\n– wing and tail 2nd generation with rounded tips, note mirror on P10 (left)
\n– pretty advanced individual
\n– bill unusually pale with dark band
\n– still distinctly marked underwing primary coverts<\/p>\n<\/a>
\nCaspian Gull Larus cachinnans<\/em>, 2CY\/2W<\/strong>
\nBIF3478, 09\/10\/2020, North Sea, Patrick Franke
\n– note subterminal spot on P10 (left)
\n– almost all-white underwing coverts
\n– brightening of the base of bill
\n– striking hindneck-markings<\/p>\n<\/a>
\nCaspian Gull Larus cachinnans<\/em>, 2CY\/2W<\/strong>
\nBIF3480, 09\/10\/2020, North Sea, Patrick Franke<\/p>\n<\/a>
\nCaspian Gull Larus cachinnans<\/em>, 3CY\/2W<\/strong>
\nBIF3222, 04\/05\/2010, North Sea, Mathias Putze
\n– classic late winter 2W bird
\n– mainly pure white body with markings restricted to hindneck
\n– brighting of the bill advanced<\/p>\n<\/a>
\nCaspian Gull Larus cachinnans<\/em>, 3CY\/2W<\/strong>
\nBIF3219, 04\/05\/2010, North Sea, Mathias Putze
\n– 2nd generation remiges, coverts and tail, worn off
\n– some 2nd generation primary coverts missing, mantle feathers with delicate shaft streaks
\n– light areas and layered texture on the inner primaries
\n– long, parallel-edged, pointed bill (‘brush tip’) with noticeable brightening of the base of bill<\/p>\n<\/a>
\nCaspian Gull Larus cachinnans<\/em>, 3CY\/3W<\/strong>
\nBIF3231, 18\/11\/2011, North Sea, Mathias Putze
\n– classic 3CY\/3rd winter bird
\n– wing and tail 3rd generation with rounded tips
\n– black comma on P4 outer web
\n– note mirrors on P9\/10
\n– small terminal spots and white trailing edge to the inner wing
\n– mantle and wing coverts predominantly 3rd generation, grey, adult like
\n– hindneck-markings, pure white head, belly, flanks and rump
\n– tail with vestigial black terminal band
\n– bill pale greenish yellow with dark subterminal band<\/p>\n<\/a>
\nCaspian Gull Larus cachinnans<\/em>, 3CY\/3W<\/strong>
\nBIF3233, 03\/11\/2011, Saxony, Germany, Mathias Putze
\n– advanced moult compared to BIF 3231 (appears SUBAD except for the tail)
\n– remiges and tail 3rd generation, with rounded tips
\n– black comma on P4 outer web
\n– note very large, sharply defined mirrors on P9\/10
\n– all mantle and most wing coverts adult-like, single dark primary coverts<\/p>\n<\/a>
\nCaspian Gull Larus cachinnans<\/em>, 3CY\/3W<\/strong>
\nBIF3232, 03\/11\/2011, Saxony, Germany, Mathias Putze
\n– almost like an adult but note the black tail subterminal band
\n– underwing coverts usually pure white at this age<\/p>\n<\/a>
\nCaspian Gull Larus cachinnans<\/em>, 3CY\/3W<\/strong>
\nBIF3234, 03\/11\/2011, Saxony, Germany, Mathias Putze
\n– easily mistaken for an adult but note weak subterminal band in tail<\/p>\n<\/a>
\nCaspian Gull Larus cachinnans<\/em>, AD BREED<\/strong>
\nBIF3236, 08\/11\/2009, North Sea, Mathias Putze
\n– P10 with completely white tip not yet fully grown
\n– continuous black subterminal band on P5
\n– P4 with black comma on outer web
\n– pure white head, small dark eye, red orbital ring
\n– comparatively delicate, parallel-edged, greenish yellow bill with pale red gonys
\n– flat back<\/p>\n<\/a>
\nCaspian Gull Larus cachinnans<\/em>, AD BREED<\/strong>
\nBIF3239, 02\/11\/2011, Saxony, Germany, Mathias Putze
\n– possible hybrid cachinnans<\/em>_X_argentatus<\/em>
\n– appears long-winged with ‘drooping belly’
\n– fairly little black in ‘hand’
\n– black comma on P5 outer web only
\n– grey tongues on inner web of outer primaries
\n– unusually bulky bill with relatively pronounced gonys<\/p>\n<\/a>
\nCaspian Gull Larus cachinnans<\/em>, AD NBREED<\/strong>
\nBIF3235, 08\/11\/2009, North Sea, Mathias Putze
\n– pure white head, in winter plumage with some hindneck-markings
\n– pale red gonys with dark speckles<\/p>\n<\/a>
\nCaspian Gull Larus cachinnans<\/em>, AD NBREED<\/strong>
\nBIF3238, 02\/11\/2011, Saxony, Germany, Mathias Putze
\n– classic bird
\n– ‘drooping belly’<\/p>\n<\/a>
\nCaspian Gull Larus cachinnans<\/em>, AD NBREED<\/strong>
\nBIF3237, 21\/08\/2010, Baltic Sea, Mathias Putze
\n– active moult in remiges
\n– P10\/9 old, worn with grey tongues on inner web
\n– P8\/7 missing, P6 growing, P5-1 fresh
\n– small dark eye, bright white ‘eyelids’
\n– pale red gonys with dark speckles<\/p>\n<\/a>
\nCaspian Gull Larus cachinnans<\/em>, AD NBREED<\/strong>
\nBIF3410, 03\/11\/2018, Besh Barmag, Azerbaijan, Michael Hei\u00df
\n– eastern bird
\n– typical primary pattern, P10\/9 still growing<\/p>\n<\/a>
\nCaspian Gull Larus cachinnans<\/em>, AD NBREED<\/strong>
\nBlack-headed Gull Chroicocephalus ridibundus<\/em>, AD, 1CY<\/strong>
\nBIF3232, 31\/10\/2017, K\u00fchlungsborn, Germany, Roland Neumann
\n– classic adult bird<\/p>\n<\/a>
\nCaspian Gull Larus cachinnans<\/em>, AD<\/strong>
\nPallas’s Gull Ichthyaetus ichthyaetus<\/em>, AD BREED<\/strong>
\nBlack-headed Gull Chroicocephalus ridibundus<\/em>, AD<\/strong>
\nBIF3404, 16\/03\/2012, Besh Barmag, Azerbaijan, Michael Hei\u00df<\/p>\n<\/a>
\nCaspian Gull X Herring Gull Larus cachinnans-x-argentatus<\/em> (probably), 1CY\/1W<\/strong>
\nBIF3183, 20\/08\/2010, Baltic Sea, Mathias Putze
\ncachinnans<\/em>-features:
\n– compact, small-headed
\n– slightly contrasting light head with rather long bill
\n– comparatively dark inner primaries, lightened only on inner vains
\nargentatus<\/em>-features:
\n– fairly strong patterned bases of rectrices and uppertail coverts
\n– rather strong bill<\/p>\n<\/a>
\nCaspian Gull X Herring Gull Larus cachinnans-x-argentatus<\/em> (probably), 1CY\/JUV (same as BIF3183)<\/strong>
\nBIF3182, 20\/08\/2010, Baltic Sea, Mathias Putze
\ncachinnans<\/em>-features:
\n– solid, evenly broad dark terminal band in tail
\n– flat forehead
\nargentatus<\/em>-features:
\n– dark underwing
\n– strongly marked undertail coverts <\/p>\n
\n– sometimes some chatting especially during nocturnal flights or near man-made structures<\/p>\n
\nCommon Gull
\nRing-billed Gull
\nCape Gull
\nLesser Black-backed Gull
\nBaltic Gull
\nHeuglin\u2019s Gull
\nSteppe Gull
\nEuropean Herring Gull
\nArmenian Gull
\nYellow-legged Gull<\/a>
\nVega Gull
\nAmerican Herring Gull
\nThayer\u2019s Gull
\nIceland Gull
\nSlaty-backed Gull
\nGlaucous-winged Gull
\nGlaucous Gull
\nGreat Black-backed Gull<\/p>\n
Larus cachinnans<\/em><\/span>