ID pls re wrong plumage for black headed gull in winter?

[Dillybythesea]

This solitary gull on the shore this morning looks like a black-headed gull in summer plumage surely? Sorry if it's a silly question - and that the bird's so small in shot.

[Jason Green]

Afternoon Dilly,

Yes, a Black-headed Gull for me. I saw one in full summer about a week ago, and a couple of others growing theirs nearby too!

Take care,

Jason

[watsthat]

Hi there

Black headed gulls are well into their summer plumage now i.e. black heads

Pete

[Dillybythesea]

Thank you both! It may be cold but 'm feeling quite Spring-like now you've said that.

[darrenm]

i saw one in mid December with most of its spring head plumage on show at Colwick Park in Nottingham amongst a flock of about 70 others, the flock also included a 2 winter Med Gull

[aeshna5]

Among the hoardes of Black-headed Gulls along the Thames this morning there were a handful with dark hoods + others intermediate. Many gulls have now started their spring moult whereby head + body (but not flight/tail) feathers are moulted.

[thebeard]

I saw a couple in summer plumage on dec 29th at attenborough NR, maybe they like starting early in notts! i also saw some med gulls in that flock too... some kind of connection? lol doubt it :P

[RoyW]

The thing to remember is that the terms 'summer plumage' and 'winter plumage' are human terms that have fallen into common usage because they are the plumage that the majority of individuals of which ever species is being referred to will be in at that season.

Sometimes you will find the plumages called 'breeding' and 'non-breeding' (or similar) which are perhaps better terms - as long as you remember that most species will acquire breeding plumage before they actually start to pair up and breed!
Pre-breeding moult in Black-headed Gulls is typically between January and March but may be started as early as late December - and may not be completed until late April/early May in some individuals. Post breeding moult (ie. into 'winter' plumage) may commence as early as June.

[Dillybythesea]

That's given a whole broader explanation and will make me look at things differently forever after. Many thanks.

[MikeS]

Roy W's posting is spot on. "Breeding" plumage is roughly the first half of the year, and "non-breeding" the second half. The sequence is :-
1.Bird fledges in "juvenile" plumage - Robin speckled with no red
2.About 4-10 weeks later post juvenile moult - Robin loses speckles and gains red breast. In this moult Robin keeps its juvenile tail and main flight feathers - primaries, secondaries and primary coverts. It replaces many body feathers, some or all of its secondary coverts, all median and lesser coverts, and possibly some tertials.
3. "Spring" moult (actually earlier - see RoyW) - immatures and adults - some body feathers replaced
4. "Autumn" moult from July/August - everything replaced on year-old and adults.
Thus at present the male Blackbirds in your garden will be all black if they were hatched 2008 or earlier, but should have some contrasting dark brown wing feathers if they were hatched in 2009. You can see this with the naked eye, and certainly with binoculars.
Many birds gain breeding plumage early in the year not by feather replacement but by abrasion - the tips are a different colour and wear away e.g. to reveal male Chaffinch's blue head and bright pink breast.
You should be able to find a diagram naming the different feathers in your guide book or online - moult is the secret of good birdwatching - I only wish I had studied it more when I was younger. Be careful - the rules above are not followed exactly by all birds, but are roughly true.
MikeS