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PLATE 53: LARGE WHITE-HEADED GULLS
Lesser Black-backed Gull Larus fuscus WV, PM
Several subspecies – fuscus, heuglini and barabensis – occur in the region and are a source of much
confusion. Some observers simply refer to these and the Caspian Gull as ‘large white-headed gulls’.
However, with care, experience and close attention to wing, leg and eye colour and, particularly,
to wing-tip pattern, it is possible to separate them, at least adult birds. The three subspecies are
described separately below.Baltic Gull Larus fuscus fuscus
L: 53. W: 127. Smallest of the group, a slim, very long-winged gull. Adult with jet-black wings
and mantle, though can wear greyer; rather sparse streaking on head and neck in winter; bright
yellow legs and one, rarely two, small, white mirrors on wing-tip. In flight, wings noticeably long
(also evident on settled bird) and slender. Little or no contrast in black tone on upperside of
primaries. Flying first-winter shows evenly coloured dark brown ‘hand’, secondaries and greater
coverts without translucent inner primaries, unlike Caspian; tertials dark brown, narrowly fringed
and tipped buffish-white; tail and rump white, tail-base boldly spotted or barred black and with
broad, blackish terminal band. Underwing-coverts dark brown in first-winter and usually lacking
distinctive pattern (unlike Caspian which are plain white). As immature plumage progresses, head
and underparts turn whitish, and from spring of second calendar year blackish feathers are visible
on shoulder, back and wing-coverts. Voice Calls deep and slightly nasal. Habitat Coastal; less
frequently inland waters. Note Passage hatched; scarce or absent in winter.Heuglin’s Gull Larus fuscus heuglini
L: 58–65. W: 125–150. Large, with upright stance; recalling Steppe Gull but with fiercer face; one,
rarely two white mirrors on wing-tip. Bold streaking on head and neck in winter to early April
(to February in Steppe Gull). Juvenile can appear similar to Baltic Gull. First-winter/first-summer
can appear like Caspian Gull, but often has bicoloured bill, patterned greater coverts, more heavily
marked scapulars, and less translucency on inner primaries. Voice Deep, nasal gagaga; usually
silent in winter. Habitat Coast and lakes. Note Passage and winter hatched; abundant Oman, UAE.
[Alt: Siberian Gull]Steppe Gull Larus fuscus barabensis
L: 55–65. W: 125–150. Slightly smaller than Caspian Gull with more rounded head, flattish forehead,
medium/long bill, shorter legs and brighter bare parts; smallish, usually dark eye – birds that winter
in Arabian Gulf often have pale eyes. Usually darker grey than Caspian, slightly paler than Heuglin’s
Gull. Grey tongues protrude into black wing-tip less than Caspian, but more than Heuglin’s;
mirrors on P9 and P10 (longest primaries). Underside of flight feathers grey against white
coverts (unlike most Caspian but similar to Heuglin’s); legs generally deeper yellow in breeding
condition, but some fleshy. May show band on bill. Winter adult white-headed with weak streaks on
hindneck. First-summer has mantle, scapulars and many coverts of adult type. Voice Gulping yah-
aah-aah-aah and thin, high, drawn-out peeeer in winter. Habitat Coastal in winter. Note Passage
and winter hatched; abundant Oman, UAE.Caspian Gull Larus cachinnans pm, wv
L: 60–65. W: 125–150. Long-winged, long-legged, with long, parallel-sided bill and upright
stance. Neat looking with characteristic blank or innocent facial expression, gently sloping
forehead, rounded head and often a dark, bullet-hole eye. Adult paler than all likely congeners
(except Pallas’s Gull). More white on wing-tip than other gulls, with large white tongue on inner
web of P10 (outermost primary) and often with large all-white tip; some eastern populations have
small amount of black within the large white wing-tip. Grey tongues protrude into more restricted
black on primaries. Legs pale greyish-pink/straw; bill with a greenish tone to the base. Juvenile
quickly moults to first-winter, a beautiful gull with a clean white head, nestled in ‘shawl’ around
hindneck, and white underparts; pale tips to median and greater coverts form pale borders to finely
patterned greater coverts; underwing normally white. Subtle pale line from eye to eye, along nape/
crown boundary, with ‘shadow’ behind eye. First-winter Heuglin’s Gull can look similar to Caspian
Gull. Voice Nasal and ringing, likened to a donkey braying. Habitat Coastal and inland waters.
Note Passage and winter hatched; least numerous of the larger gulls in much of Arabia.