This presumed hybrid Lesser Black-backed Gull (Larus fuscus) x European Herring Gull (Larus argentatus) was photograped at Fjellerup Strand on Djursland in Denmark on 18 December 2010. I use the word "presumed" because one can never be sure of the exact lineage of a hybrid without having direct information on the parents.
It attracted my attention because of its dark-grey plumage which was much darker than the European Herring Gulls but at the same time much lighter than the intermedius Lesser Black-backed Gull we normally see (rare in winter) and even paler tan the odd graellsii-types that we more rarely see than intermedius . The graellsii-type is also rare in winter.
The possibility of it being a hybrid Lesser Black-backed Gull x European Herring Gull, seems to be the best fit because it was much darker grey compared to local Herring Gulls and lighter than Lesser Black-backed Gulls, it showed distinct pink-tinged legs with pink feet, it appeared to have an argentatus-yellow orbital ring, no distinct black spots on primary P5, P4 and P3, rather dark underside to primaries and a broad white trailing edge to secondaries as in Lesser Black-backed Gull and finally a Herring Gull JIZZ with short primary projection. In other words, it showed mixed characters of both species.
It attracted my attention because of its dark-grey plumage which was much darker than the European Herring Gulls but at the same time much lighter than the intermedius Lesser Black-backed Gull we normally see (rare in winter) and even paler tan the odd graellsii-types that we more rarely see than intermedius . The graellsii-type is also rare in winter.
The possibility of it being a hybrid Lesser Black-backed Gull x European Herring Gull, seems to be the best fit because it was much darker grey compared to local Herring Gulls and lighter than Lesser Black-backed Gulls, it showed distinct pink-tinged legs with pink feet, it appeared to have an argentatus-yellow orbital ring, no distinct black spots on primary P5, P4 and P3, rather dark underside to primaries and a broad white trailing edge to secondaries as in Lesser Black-backed Gull and finally a Herring Gull JIZZ with short primary projection. In other words, it showed mixed characters of both species.
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