Yellow-legged
Gull - Larus michahellis
(last update: October 08 2013)
Coordinators:
Delfín González
Gabriel Martín
Antonio Gutierrez
Amir Ben Dov
Mars Muusse
Yellow-legged Gull michahellis 1CY, November 22 2003, Banyuls/Mer, S France.
An individual which clearly replaced upper tertials and wing-coverts in the post-juvenile moult. All scapulars have been replaced for second generation feathers, including the rear lower scapulars, the ones covering the scapular coverts. In the upper scapulars, a subsequent moult to third generation feathers has started, with new third generation feathers still showing a second generation-like pattern, but with broad neat fringes.
The partial autumn moult included the four upper tertials, the inner half (8 feathers) of the greater coverts, most of the visible inner median coverts (about 11 feathers) and lower lesser coverts (about 9 feathers) and most inner lesser coverts (about 70% of the visible feathers in the folded wing).
The bill turns paler at the tip and at the base.
