lusitanius Yellow-legged Gull

(last update: 10-12-2013)

Yellow-legged Gull lusitanius 2cy, November 28 2012, Peniche, Portugal. Picture: Rui Caratão.

Still some dark feathers in scapular saddle. Central median coverts, few central lower lesser coverts and inner greater covert replaced in partial autumn moult.

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.