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 23 2003, Rosas, NE Spain.
An individual which replaced a slightly more than average amount of upper tertials and wing-coverts in the post-juvenile moult and shows the ordinary sequence of this partial moult, which normally includes most inner wing-coverts and upper tertials. All scapulars have been replaced for second generation feathers, including the rear lower scapulars, the ones covering the scapular coverts. In both the upper and lower scapulars, a subsequent moult to third generation feathers has started (50-75% in the upper scpaulars; 1-25% of the lower scapulars again replaced), with the pattern of the new third generation feathers very second generation-like, again showing an anchor pattern but with the centre more buffish coloured.
The partial autumn moult included the four upper tertials, the six innermost greater coverts, most of the visible inner median coverts (14 feathers) and lower lesser coverts (12 feathers) and most of the inner lesser coverts (80% of the lesser coverts is visible, 90% has been replaced for second generation).
The bill turns paler at the base, especially at the lower mandible but also at the tip.
