lusitanius Yellow-legged Gull

(last update: 10-12-2013)

Yellow-legged Gull lusitanius 1cy, November 07 2012, Peniche, Portugal. Picture: Rui Caratão.

Bird right: some coverts replaced in post-juvenile moult, tertials juvenile. Rear lower scapulars replaced.

Second image: bird in front typical michahellis michahellis: white-headed, much white in tail, advanced post-juvenile moult, large bird.

Warning: by November, the Atlantic coast of Portugal holds large numbers oif birds, including Lesser Black-backed Gulls (graellsii / intermedius), Mediterranean Yellow-legged Gulls (michahellis michahellis) and of course local birds (michahellis lusitanius). Sometimes, these three taxa may appear extremely similar, and ID is tentative. However, extremes of all forms are rather straightforward, especially for bird watchers from the region.