Mongolian Gulls Larus (?) mongolicus
December 10th 2006 Shanghai China


A group of Mongolian Gull in Shanghai
Note their whitish heads-breasts and advanced primary molts, and compare it with Vega Gulls photographed 4 days later in Japan. The third bird from the left had a complete white head like breeding plumage. All others had variable amounts of streaks, though basically they had no streaks on their center breasts. In this image, only 2 adults have clearly incomplete primaries ( the 2nd and 4th bird from the right, P8 is the longest ) out of 9 adults/subadults. No individual had old primaries. In flight, adults which had 7 black-marked primaries had a majority as expected. We couldn't find any obvious Vega Gull among about 50 large gulls during our stay in Shanghai, 8-10th December.

Same individual as the 2nd bird from the right of the upper image.


4 adult Mongolian Gulls with a 1st winter Heuglin's Gull.


8 black-marked primaries. P10 still a little short.


7 black-marked primaries. Primary molt has finished.


Same individual as above.


7 black-marked primaries. Primary molt has finished.


6 black-marked primaries. P10 is still a little short.

6 black-marked primaries. P10 is still a little short.

Vega Gulls photographed 4 days later in Japan.