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 2CY, January 05 2002, Boulogne-sur-Mer, NW France (50.44N,1.35E).
An example of a strong and powerful male michahellis. The head is nearly all-white and the tip of the bill turns white. The tail
and all the tertials are completely juvenile. Moult in the wing-coverts
and in the scapulars is in progress: the recently moulted rear lower
scapulars show very neat and fresh broad white fringes and buffish centres.
The upper scapulars were moulted some time ago and some those feathers
have the buff- based centres bleached now. Furthermore, the white fringes
are worn away in these feathers. In the rear lower scapulars two feathers
are still missing and will be replaced for second generation
scapulars.
Several wing-coverts were moulted as well: the inner four greater coverts
have been replaced for second generation feathers, while the fourth
greater covert is still growing. In the median coverts #1-3 and #6-7 have
been replaced. Lower lesser coverts #1-2 and #4-5 were moulted and as can
be seen in the picture #1 has a clearly grey base-colour and was moulted
very recently. Four lesser coverts are replaced as well. There is no
active moult going on in the wing-coverts.
