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 average: scapulars replaced and GC2-GC3 replaced. Size of bird, white head, long exposed tibia make it very similar to Med michahellis.

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.