Juv/1st winter
Vega Gull Larus vegae
3rd November 2002 Sakawagawa-river Odawara Kanagawa Japan

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A typical Vega Gull.
The wing-coverts are lighter than smithsonianus. The underparts are uniformly darker than mongolicus

An advanced individual. Over 50% of the scapulars was replaced, exceptional for vegae in early November?

A fresh juvenile.

A relatively dark individual that is probably hard to distinguish from some pale smithsonianus.

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Mongolicus or Vegae?

The uniform breast-belly looks likely to be a Vega Gull, but the contrasty wing coverts and narrow tail band look likely to be a Mongolian Gull.

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