lusitanius Yellow-legged Gull

(last update: 10-12-2013)

Yellow-legged Gull lusitanius 1cy, November 29 2012, Peniche, Portugal. Picture: Rui Caratão.

Some birds have coverts replaced in post-juvenile moult, others are less advanced and have the covert panel still juvenile. However, most have replaced scapulars by late November.

This bird is an exceptional late bird, with just a few upper scapulars replaced, still almost completely juvenile. Birds like this are notoriously difficult to distinguish from LBBG graellsii.

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.