VEGA GULLS, L.vegae

all photos and comments courtesy of Angus Wilson, copyright 1998

This series of photographs were taken on the 3rd January 1998 at Choshi, a large fishing port at the mouth of the Tonegawa (Tone River) in Chiba Province (NE of Tokyo) Honshu, Japan.

Fig. 1) Vega Gull in 1st winter plumage. Note the crisp patterning on the mantle and coverts also the flat-headed appearance.

Fig. 2) Compare the mantle shades of the adult Vega Gulls (bottom left and far right) with the adult Slaty-backed Gull (bottom right). Also visible, several Black-tailed and Common Black-headed Gulls.

Fig. 3) Adult Vega Gull in flight. Note 'heavy, flat-headed' look that is strikingly different from North American smithsonianus or Western European argenteus and more like Scandinavian argentatus. Relatively broad white trailing edge to secondaries (width similar to Slaty-backed Gull). Trailing edge more sharply defined than in smithsonianus or argenteus, presumably due to slightly darker mantle. Bill dull yellow with orange spot. Relatively few black marks on bill. This bird is also shown in Fig. 4 and Fig. 5.

Fig. 4) Same bird as in Figure 3 and 5.

Fig. 5) Same bird as in Figure 3 and 4. Shows underwing pattern and broad white trailing edge to secondaries.

Fig. 6) Adult Vega Gull standing. Note typical bubble-gum pink legs and diffuse spotting which is concentrated on the nape.

Fig. 7) Adult Vega Gull swimming. Seen at a distance, the majority of adult Vega Gulls appear dark-eyed like this. Note dull yellow bill and broad tertial crescent.

Fig. 8) Adult Vega Gull with Common Black-headed Gulls (Larus ridibundus). Amber eye color clearly visible. Head mottling concentrated on nape.

Fig. 9) Adult Vega Gull in flight. The two-tone effect on mantle is an artifact of the underwing coverts blocking light passing through the wings. Primary molt in progress. Subterminal marks on 6th longest primary (P5, U.S. numbering). One or two mirrors are typically visible in adults with the smaller mirror approximately 75% the size of larger mirror. Small white tongues on 3rd to 5th longest primaries (P8-P6).