Round 6.- Solutions
Beginner
The bird in the picture can be easily identified as an adult gull. The shape and colour of the bill and legs, respectively the wing pattern will help us in identification. The bill is relatively fine and yellow. The legs are black. Most of the small sized gulls have red or reddish black bills, pink or red legs and largely different wing pattern, which eliminates a large sum of species. Large gulls can also be excluded by their different bill shape and colour, the shape of the head, the pattern of the wing tip and some species because of their different mantle colour.
The Ring-billed Gull (Larus delawarensis) has yellow bill in adult plumage, however it also has a black ring close to the bill tip. Furthermore it also has pale iris, greenish-yellow legs, longer tail, and white spots on the black wing tip.
The Common Gull (L. canus) also has greenish yellow-bill, but the mantle colour is darker, the black wing tip shows white spots, which is the most accentuated on the first primary. The posterior part of the head does not have a faint grey area, although it may show fine streaking in winter. In breeding plumage the head is white.
There are only two species with similar general appearance in the Western Palearctic: the two Kittiwake species.
The Red-legged Kittiwake (Rissa brevirostris) can be ruled out by its darker grey mantle, larger black spot on wing tip, red legs and shorter and thicker bill.
The only species left is the Kittiwake (Rissa tridactyla), the bird in the picture being an adult in transitional plumage. Characteristics of this species are the head pattern (in this plumage), the black wing tip without any white spots, the yellow bill and black legs.
Beside the solution other answer received was Mediterranean Gull (Larus melanocephalus).
Kittiwake (Rissa tridactyla)
 |
 |
Photo: Manci Cosmin Ovidiu, 2008 June, Ireland
Advanced
Looking attentively on the bird in the picture, it can be identified as a pipit (Anthus sp.) in juvenile plumage. Juveniles of the Turdidae family from Europe and the Catharus species can be excluded because of the lack of white on the outer rectrices and the length of the hind claw, which is shorter and more curved.
The bird has a relatively dark plumage; consequently species with very pale plumage, such as Long-billed Pipit (Anthus similis), Richard’s Pipit (A. richardi) and Tawny Pipit (A. campestris) can easily be eliminated.
Blyth’s Pipit (A. godlewskii) has much finer bill, the streaks on the breast are also smaller and finer, the legs are pale and it usually has a supercilium, which is visible behind the eyes.
The Red-throated Pipit (A. cervinus) has different plumage characters in all plumages.
Some pipits like the Pechora Pipit (A. gustavi), Tree Pipit (A. trivialis) and Meadow Pipit (A. pratensis) have pale pinkish legs, yellowish breast with dark streaks and white belly. Although they do not have supercilium, the head colour is paler with fine dark streaks.
The Berthelot’s Pipit (A. berthelotti) has fine and pointed bill, visible white supercilium and white breast with dark streaks. The legs are pale and the head is also paler.
The Olive-backed Pipit (A. hodgsoni) has pink legs, clearly visible white supercilium and a white spot at the ears. The breast and the belly are pale, the former one showing dark streaks.
There are three species left, which were considered conspecific and were split only recently: the Buff-bellied Pipit (A. rubescens), the Water Pipit (A. spinoletta) and the Rock Pipit (Anthus petrosus).
The Buff-bellied Pipit has two subspecies, which are easily separable. A. r. rubescen has a short, but visible supercilium and the area around the eyes is pale. The breast may be whitish, yellowish or off-white with darker streaks. The plumage is generally paler and the legs are usually black or blackish-red. A. r. japonicus has darker plumage, blackish brown legs, paler breast and belly with accentuated streaking. At the sides of the neck a dark spot is visible. Both of the subspecies have white outer rectrices.
Juvenile Water Pipits have a generally paler plumage, the crown is paler with dark streaking, the base of the lower mandible is yellow, the base colour of the breast and belly is paler and the eye ring is less accentuated. Furthermore the edge of the upper median coverts is white, as well as the outer rectrices.
Consequently the only species remaining is the Rock Pipit (Anthus petrosus). The generally dark colour of the head, cheek, back, breast and belly, the grey edges to the upper median coverts, the grey outer rectrices and the accentuated white eye-ring are characteristic to this species.
Note: The leg colour of these letter two species is generally dark, being usually darker (blackish) in the case of the Rock Pipit, than at the Water Pipit (blackish red or brownish grey). The variation in leg colour is dependent on season, age of the specimen and it can be also individually different. Consequently leg colour is not a good feature alone in the identification of these two species and it is advisable to use it together with other characteristics.
Beside the solution other answers received were Water Pipit, Tree Pipit, Meadow Pipit and Swainson’s Thrush (Catharus ustulatus).
Rock pippit (Anthus p. petrosus)
 |
 |
Round 5.- Solutions
Beginner
It is visible at the first sight that the bird on the photo is a large sized gull in adult plumage. The medium sized Common and Ring-billed Gulls (Larus canus, L. delawarensis) can be eliminated because of their different bill shape, colour and size.
The adults of the white or pale grey species, as L. glaucescens, L. hyperboreus, L. glaucoides and L. thayeri can also be eliminated, as they have pink legs and wing tips without or with very few dark markings.
The Herring Gull, American Herring Gull, Vega Gull, Caspian Gull, Armenian Gull and Yellow-legged Gull (L. argentatus, L. smithsonianus, Larus vegae, Larus cachinnans, L. armenicus, L. michahellis) have white, not dark grey inner primaries and secondaries, and except the Armenian Gull, all species show several white spots on the wingtips. The Armenian Gull also has a black ring on the bill.
The species left for discussion are those with dark upperparts, which also show grey inner primaries and secondaries.
The Greater Black-backed Gull (L. marinus) is larger and more robust, with longer wings, stronger bill, pink legs, darker iris and several larger white spots on the wingtip, which may even form a white terminal band.
The Kelp Gull (L. dominicanus) has greenish-grey legs, sometimes with yellowish tinge, but is never so intense yellow. The iris is dark and the bill wider, larger and more massive. The wingtip shows 3-5 white spots.
The Slaty-backed Gull (L. schistisagus) has pink legs and shows a wide white terminal wing band on the secondaries and inner primaries. There is much white on the wingtip.
The Western Gull (L. occidentalis) also has pink legs and several white spots on the wingtip.
The two species left are the Lesser Black-backed Gull (L. fuscus) and Heuglin’s Gull (L. heuglini), a recent split from the former species. Heuglin’s Gull, however, has greyer upperparts, not black, which makes the inner primaries and secondaries of the underwing paler, the contrast with the wingtip being bigger. The second primary usually has a small white spot near the tip.
Consequently the bird can be identified as a Lesser Black-backed Gull, belonging to the nominate subspecies (Larus f. fuscus).
Beside the correct answer others opted for the Yellow-legged Gull (Larus michahellis)
Lesser Black-backed Gull (Larus fuscus)
 |
 |
Photo: Kelemen A. Márton, April 2008 – Sfântu Gheorghe (Danube Delta), Romania
Advanced
The body structure and colour indicates at first glance that it is a tern in juvenile plumage. The Chlidonias species can be excluded, as their tail is not that deeply forked.
The Sandwich Tern, Greater Crested Tern and Elegant Tern (S. sandvicensis, S. bergii, S. elegans) have black legs also in juvenile plumage (S. elegans may have yellow in it). The other large sized terns, as Caspian Tern, Royal Tern and Lesser Crested Tern (S. caspia, S. maxima, S. bengalensis) have longer legs and different plumage. Consequently all these species can be excluded.
Juvenile Forster’s Terns (S. forsteri) have grey crown, orange legs, do not have a black cap, only a black mask around the eyes and have brown feathers on the back.
The White-cheeked Tern (S. repressa) has longer mostly orange legs, the remiges are the same grey as the rest of the wing or slightly darker. The tail is relatively short and grey.
The Aleutian Tern (Sterna aleutica) has red-orange legs and brown-grey feathers on the back. The tail is off-white or light-grey and less forked.
Least and Little Terns (Sterna antillarum, Sterna albifrons) have yellowish legs and the feathers of the back show black U-shaped patterns. The tail is short, not so pronouncedly forked and white.
The outer primaries of the Roseate Tern (S. dougallii) show wide white inner margins, which are not present on this bird. The back feathers are grey or cream coloured with distinctive black markings. The legs are pinkish-grey or black.
The Common Tern (S. hirundo) has longer tarsus of darker pink or reddish orange colour. The black carpal area of the upper wing is pronounced and easily visible. In worn plumage (as this bird) the feathers of the back are black tipped and the remiges are visibly darker than the rest of the upperwing. The tertials are pale grey contrary to the dark grey tertials of the bird on the picture.
Eliminating all these species the only one remaining is the Arctic Tern (Sterna paradisaea) with a mostly uniformly grey back with very few and faint markings. The tarsus is short and greyish pink.
Beside the correct answer others opted for Little Tern and Common Tern.
Arctic Tern (Sterna paradisea)
 |
 |
Photo: Miholcsa Tamás, July 2006 – Finland
Round 4.- Solutions
Beginner
Comparing the size of the bird with the hand we can easily conclude that it is a small sized passerine. Furthermore the general plumage colour – olive-brown without any stripes – eliminates a wide range of species. The orange spots on the greater wing coverts are characteristic of the Turdidae family.
All Phylloscopus warblers are much smaller sized, with usually greenish or brown plumage and pale supercilium, thus can be excluded.
The Hippolais, Acrocephalus and Locustella warblers with uniform plumage have a more elongated body and they never have orange spots on the greater coverts. The brown Locustella warblers (L. fluviatilis, L. luscinioides, L. fasciolata) and some Acrocephalus warblers have rounded tail feathers and the tail is also rounded because of the shorter outer and longer inner feathers.
None of the Sylvia warblers have similar plumage colour.
All American small sized thrushes (Catharus guttatus, C. ustulatus, C. minimus şi C. fuscescens) can be excluded because of their larger size, greyish-brown or rusty back and tail colour and dark primary tips.
The Song Thrush (Turdus philomelos) and the Redwing (T. iliacus) are much larger with brown back, longer wings, shorter tail and the Redwing also has a conspicuous white supercilium.
The Siberian Rubythroat (Luscinia calliope) can be eliminated by its greyer back colour, conspicuous white supercilium and more pointed wing.
The Nightingale (Luscinia megarhynchos) has rufous, the Thrush Nightingale (L. luscinia) rufous-brown tail, which eliminates both of the species.
Beside the general plumage colour and the presence of orange spots on the wings, the large eyes with red above them, the grey colour on the sides of the neck also indicate that the bird on the picture is a European Robin (Erithacus rubecula).
Beside the correct answers, others opted for Wood Warbler (Phylloscopus trochilus) and Reed Warbler (Acrocephalus scirpaceus).
Robin (Erithacus rubecula)
 |
 |
|
Advanced
The bird on the picture is a mostly brown coloured bird of prey, with relatively long wings and tail, and five „fingered” primaries. Consequently only the family Accipiteridae and Pandionidae will be discussed.
The juvenile and immature Egyptian Vultures (Neophron percnopterus), which have brown plumage, can be excluded as they also have some paler markings on their back and upperwings, white rump and rhomb shaped tail.
The adult Ospreys (Pandion haliaetus) have uniformly brown upperparts with barred remiges and rectrices, shorter tail and mostly white underparts..
The large eagles (Aquila chrysaetos, A. adalberti, A. heliaca.) can be eliminated by their more massive body structure and different plumage. The other three species (A. pomarina, A. clanga şi A. nipalensis) have much shorter tail and their plumage is also different. At all the Aquilaspecies the wings are much wider and they also have at least 6, but mostly 7 fingered primaries.
The dark morph Booted Eagle (Hieraaetus [Aquila] pennatus) has brown plumage with long wings and tail, however it also has pale markings on the upperwings, whitish rump, six fingered primaries and the inner primaries form a pale, translucent „window” on the wings. Consequently this species can also be excluded.
Juvenile Red Kites (Milvus milvus) have deeply forked, rufous-brown tail and also show pale markings on the upperwing coverts. The Black Kite (M. migrans) also has forked tail, which is however sometimes hardly visible. Juveniles have pale markings on the upperparts, the adults being more uniformly coloured, with darker back, paler upperwing coverts and blackish remiges. Usually six finger primaries are visible.
Some Common Buzzards (Buteo buteo) and Long-legged Buzzards (Buteo rufinus) may have predominantly brown upperparts, but also have shorter, barred tail with a dark terminal band. Wingtips are more rounded with less accentuated fingered primaries.
The Honey Buzzard (Pernis apivorus) also has long wings and tail and it has a large variety of colour morphs. However, both juveniles and adults have a dark terminal tail-band and two central tail-bands, visible from above. The wing bars of the remiges are also visble from above and the wingtips are more rounded with less accentuated fingered primaries.
Female and juvenile Hen, Montague’s and Pallid Harriers (Circus cyaneus, C. pygargus şi C. macrourus), Dark Chanting and Gabar Goshawks (Melierax metabates, Micronisus gabar) have dark tail-bands, barred remiges and white rump.
The only species left is the Marsh Harrier (Circus aeruginosus), the bird on the picture being an immature male moulting to adult plumage. Both dark brown juvenile and grey adult-type remiges can be observed on this bird.
Beside the correct answer other participants opted for Purple Heron (Ardea purpurea), Black Kite (Milvus migrans), Red Kite (Milvus milvus) and Greater
Marsh Harrier (Circus aeruginosus)
 |
 |
Round 3.- Solutions
Beginner
The bird on the photo is small sized, relatively robust and relatively uniformly coloured. Consequently based on these features a large number of species can be eliminated, inclusively the American and Western Palearctic buntings (Passerculus, Zonotrichia, Melospiza, Emberiza etc.) The Corn Bunting (Miliaria calandra) has somewhat similar coloration, but its tail is much longer, the tertials shorter with pointed, not rounded, tip.
Consequently it is easy to identify the bird as a lark. Its worn plumage indicates that it is an adult bird in spring.
The Skylark (Alauda arvensis) has larger primary projection and shows paler tertial edges contrasting to the inner part of the feathers. The outer tail feathers are white. The Oriental Skylark (Alauda gulgula) has short primary projection, but the edges of the tertials are rusty brown, the rump is finely streaked and the rear body sides are white in spring.
The Short-toed Lark (Calandrella brachydactyla) has whitish body sides and outer rectrices. The tertials cover the primaries and are elongated and narrow, usually with yellowish-sandy edges.
The Lesser Short-toed Lark (Calandrella rufescens), the Hume’s Lark (Calandrella acutirostris) and the Asian Short-toed Lark (Calandrella cheleensis) can also be excluded by their small size and finer body structure, more elongated body, by the colour of the remiges, which usually show some rusty or sandy colour, by their white or creamish body sides and by the form of the tertials, which are elongated.
The Roufous Bushlark (Mirafa cordofanica) and the Dupont’s Lark (Chersophilus duponti) can be eliminated, as the back and tail in worn plumage are darker.
The Black-crowned Sparrow Lark (Eremopterix nigriceps) has no primary projection, as the primaries are totally covered by the tertials. The body sides of this species are white.
The Calandra Lark (Melanocorypha calandra) and the Bimaculated Lark (Melanocorypha bimaculata) have very short tail, with blackish outer rectrices, a large primary projection and pale edges to tertials even in worn plumage.
The Thekla Lark (Galerida theklae) is very similar to this species, but the rump and the upper tail coverts are rusty brown, the body sides whitish or grey and not yellowish and the tertials usually show grey edges in contrast with the inner part of the feather.
By eliminating all the species listed above, we can conclude that the bird on the picture is a Crested Lark (Galerida cristata). We can remark its robust body, the uniformly grey rump and upper tail coverts and the white body sides with yellowish streaking. On the left side of the bird, near its body side, the crest is also visible.
All players have identified the bird correctly.
 |
 |
|
Photo: Deák Attila, 2007 March – Turda (CJ), Romania
Advanced
Looking attentively on the bird we can easily realise that it is a male wheatear (Oenanthe sp.), consequently we shall discuss only this group. O. isabellina, O. leucopyga, O. leucura şi O. picta can be excluded at the first sight, as they have totally different plumage.
In the case of the Northern Weahtear (O. oenanthe) only the seebohmi subsepecies has black throat, but this can be excluded by its grey crown, white supercilium, which is quite wide even on the forehead, and the buff upper breast.
The Desert Wheatear (O. deserti) has sandy-brown crown contrasting evidently with the black throat and cheeks. The black throat is linked through a black line with the black shoulders, above which a white line is usually visible. The breast has yellowish white colour.
The Black-eared Whetear (O. h. hispanica, O. h. melanoleuca), depending on the subspecies, may have whitish or yellowish-rusty crown, contrasting strongly with the black throat and cheeks. This species does not show white supercilium and the black wings contrast very strongly with the generally whitish body. The upper breast is usually yellowish-cream.
The Pied Wheatear (O. pleschanka) has mostly white crown and nape, sometimes with a greyish cap. In this letter case the white supercilium is very wide. The black of the cheek, throat and neck continues to the wings and there is no difference in the colour of these parts. The black terminal tail-band is narrow. Most of the birds have yellowish upper breast with clear-white belly and vent. The Cyprus Wheatear (O. cypriaca) is similar, but with cinnamon upper breast.
The Finsch’s Wheatear (O. finschii) and the Mourning Wheatear (O. lugens) also have white crown and nape and narrow terminal tail-band. First winter males may have grey on the crown, but the white is the dominant colour. The bill of both species is fine.
The young males of the Hooded Wheatear (O. monacha) have a grey cap with a prominent and wide white supercilium. The greyish-black colour of the breast reaches almost to the belly. The bill is longer and thinner. The outer tail-feathers are yellowish-rusty without black terminal band.
The Red-rumped Wheatear (Oenanthe moesta) has a pale grey crown, contarsting with the white part above the eyes and the rest of the head, which is black. The shoulders are grey, which are contrasting with the rest of the wing.
The only species left is the Red-tailed (Kurdish) Wheatear (Oenanthe xanthoprymna), the bird belonging to the ‘chrysopygia’ subspecies. The key features are the dark grey crown with a narrow supercilium contrasting slightly with the rest of the head and shoulders, which are black.
Beside this species other answers received were: Mourning, Desert, Pied, Cyprus and Red-rumped Wheatear.
 |
 |
Photo: Kelemen A. Márton, 2008 February – Egypt
Round 2.- Solutions
Beginner
 |
|
Photo: Deák Attila, August 2007 – Zaboricje, Croatia
Looking at the picture, it is visible at the first glance, that the bird is a songbird with a relatively long bill and a body similar to the thrushes (Turdidae).
Some characters like the general colour of the body, the colour of the tail and undertail coverts eliminate a large number of species. Consequently we shall discuss only the dark coloured birds with similar body shape.
The female White-throated Robin (Irania gutturalis) has longer legs, white eye-ring, shows orange feathers on the body sides and the undertail coverts are unbarred and white. All Redstarts (Phoenicurus sp.) can be excluded because of their tail colour. The Blackstart (Cercomela melanura) has darker grey upperparts and the belly, sides and undertail coverts are white. All Wheatear (Oenanthe sp.) and Chat (Saxicola sp.) species can be eliminated by their body and tail colour. Thrushes (Turdus sp., Zoothera sp., Catharus sp.) also have different body colour and shape.
The only two species left for dicussion are the Rock Thrushes (Monticola sp.). Juvenile and female Rock Thrushes (Monticola saxatilis) have shorter reddish tail, lighter body colour and unbarred undertail coverts.
The Blue Rock Thrush (Monticola solitarius) has longer, brown (females) or black (males) tail, a general colour, which from distance seems dark, barred undertail coverts and long bill. On the picture we can see a young male, which already has some bluish feathers.
Beside the correct answers, the bird was identified as a Rock Thrush (Monticola saxatilis).
Advanced
 |
 |
Photo: Deák Attila, May 2007 – Bod (BV), Romania
It is visible at the first glance that the bird is a bird of prey (Accipitridae) with all brown plumage. Its feathered tarsus eliminates all other species, but the Aquila species.
The juvenile and immature Golden Eagles (Aquila chrysaetos) have white tail with dark subterminal band. Adults have longer grey tails with black subterminal band and greyish, barred remiges. The tarsus is shorter and is heavily feathered, which makes it seem thick.
The subadult and adult Eastern and Spanish Imperial Eagles (Aquila heliaca, Aquila adalberti) also have grey tail with black subterminal band and the body colour is different.
The dark morph Booted Eagle (Aquila pennata [Hieraaetus pennatus]) can be eliminated firstly by its shorter and thicker tarsus, secondly by the pale “V” shaped area of the upperwings formed by the lighter brown median coverts. Juveniles show white edges to flight feathers.
The Tawny Eagle (Aquila rapax) even in adult plumage is generally paler sandy-brown, the tarsus and tibia is paler and heavily feathered. The feathers of the tibia are long and the tarsus is short and thick. The remiges are mostly grey.
The Steppe Eagle (Aquila nipalensis), in spite of its darker brown plumage can be excluded by the following characters: the tarsus is shorter and more densely feathered, the remiges are grey and uniformly barred, even the outermost primaries (at least at their base) and it usually has more prominently marked fingers and heavier body.
The Greater Spotted Eagle (Aquila clanga) from juvenile to third plumage can be excluded by differently coloured upperparts. The underwing coverts are usually all dark, blackish or dark brown, darker than the remiges. At the bird on the picture these are paler than the remiges. The Greater Spotted Eagle also has more robust legs and the tibia is more heavily feathered. The colour of the upperparts of subadult and adult birds is dark-brown or blackish. The upperwing coverts of the bird on the picture are pale brown. The body of the Greater Spotted Eagle is dark brown or black in contrast with the light-brown body of the bird in the picture.
Consequently based on the general colour of the bird, thin and long legs we can identify it as a Lesser Spotted Eagle (Aquila pomarina) in adult plumage.
Other answers received were: Steppe Eagle (Aquila nipalensis), Greater Spotted Eagle (Aquila clanga) and Marsh Harrier (Circus aeruginosus).
Round 1.- Solutions
Beginner
- 12 right answers from 15 participants
 |
 |
Photo: Deák Attila, August 2007 – Rovanjska, Croatia
It is easy to recognize, that the bird on the picture is a small sized Passerine. The yellow rump, the relatively short tail and the colour of the legs eliminates most of the species. Consequently we shall discuss only the family Fringillidae and Emberizidae.
The Siskin (Carduelis spinus), in spite of its yellow rump, can be eliminated by the lack of the characteristic pattern of the wings. The females have a less distinctly yellow, striped rump, the males have a black cap at the crown. The bases of the siskin’s tail feathers (except the middle pair) are yellow.
The Citril Finch (Serinus citrinella) has a greenish-yellow rump, much longer tail and two wide, yellow wing bars, which are characteristic.
The Canary (Serinus canaria) also has long tail, the rump is yellow or greenish-yellow with stripes and the back is not so boldly streaked.
The Syrian Serin (Serinus syriacus) has yellow rump, but it also has a long and narrow tail, finely streaked grey back, grey crown and ochre-yellow edges of remiges, forming a pale panel.
The female Crossbills (Loxia sp.) show yellow or greenish-yellow rump and short tail, but the body is much more robust. Except the Two-barred Crossbill (Loxia leucoptera), which has two white wing bars, all the other species have uniformly coloured, dark brown wings. The large head and finely spotted back are also characteristic.
Beside the Fringillidae some species of the Emberizidae may also seem similar. All of them, however, have different plumage characters. For example the Yellowhammer (Emberiza citrinella), which has somewhat similar plumage, has red-brown rump.
The only species left in the Western Palearctic is the Serin (Serinus serinus.
Beside the correct answer, participants have opted for Greenfinch (Carduelis chloris), Siskin (Carduelis spinus) and Yellowhammer (Emberiza citrinella).
Advanced
- 29 right answers from 33 participants
 |
 |
Photo: Deák Attila, August 2007 – Zidine, Croatia
Looking at the picture we can easily realize, that the bird is a gull (Larus sp.). Terns can be eliminated by their different tail shape and the lack of the black terminal band on the tail. All large gulls can be excluded by different coloration. Consequently the bird is a small sized gull.
Before advancing to species determination, it is recommended to determine the bird’s age, as it helps much. The black terminal tail-band and the yellowish-brown colour of the upper parts reveal that the bird is a juvenile.
The colour of the remiges and legs help to eliminate a lot of species. The young Bonaparte’s Gulls (Larus philadelphia) have pinkish legs, the yellowish-brown feathers are missing from the upper parts and on the inferior part of the remiges the white is dominant, not the black.
The young Mediterranean Gulls (Larus melanocephalus) have black legs and strongly scalloped feathers on the back and wings.
The young Brown-headed Gulls (Larus brunnicephalus) are lacking the yellowish-brown feathers from the upper part of the wing, and the outer remiges are black, without any white.
The Grey-headed Gull (Larus cirrocephalus) can be excluded because of its more brightly red legs, and different wing pattern.
The Slender-billed Gull (Larus genei) is very similar to the bird in the picture, but even from this angle it can be eliminated by the following characters: its tibia is much longer and the legs are slightly lighter coloured, pink or orange-pink. The yellowish-rufous-brown pattern on upper wing is less characteristic and it’s usually paler. The inferior part of the first two primaries is always white with the tip being the only black region. On the bird in the picture it is visible, that proximal part of the second primary has its edges black with a white window in the middle. The black margins are relatively wide and black on the whole length of the feather.
Eliminating all these species, we can conclude, that the bird is a Black-headed Gull (Larus ridibundus) in juvenile plumage.
Beside the correct answer, participants have opted for Slender-billed Gull (Larus genei) and Little Gull (Larus minutus).
