Yellow-legged Gull - Larus michahellis

(last update: October 08 2013)

Coordinators:
Delfín González
Gabriel Martín
Antonio Gutierrez
Amir Ben Dov
Mars Muusse

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Larus michahellis - 1CY June

This website deals with the Yellow-legged Gull taxon michahellis, which is a common migrant from July to December in NW Europe. After extensive expansion of the breeding population during the last three decades, it nowadays can be found breeding in Belgium, the Netherlands and Britain in mixed couples with both Herring Gull (argenteus) and Lesser Black-backed Gull (graellsii). There are subtle differences between the populations from the Mediterranean, Atlantic coast of Portugal and Morocco and from the islands in the Atlantic. Most pronounced differences can be found in the taxon atlantis, now regarded as full species by some authors and birds along the Atlantic coast of the Iberian peninsular: lusitanius. Both atlantis and lusitanius are treated in their own sections on this website.

General description:

Identification of juvenile Yellow-legged Gulls isn't always easy, but with a combination of characteristics, positive identification must be possible in almost all of them. These features are listed in the July Section.

Juvenile michahellis by the end of June

 Juveniles have left the colonies and by the last days of June, several birds already made a journey of about 800 km, out of the Mediterranean, on to the NW coast of France. They still show a complete juvenile plumage.

Few example birds to show difference in timing of development.

Yellow-legged Gull michahellis U1HB 1CY, June 18 2010, Tel Aviv - University Zool. Garden, Israel. Pictures: Amir Ben Dov. From East Mediterranean. Ringed on May 31, flying around by mid-June.

Yellow-legged Gull michahellis 1CY, June 26 2011, Sant Carles de la Rapita - Ebro Delta, Cataluna, Spain. Picture: Chris Gibbins. Juvenile plumage.

Lesser Black-backed Gull graellsii 1CY, June 10 2004, Maasvlakte, the Netherlands. Picture: Mars Muusse. From nest 137. On April 26, 3 eggs in nest, clutch complete. By June, large pulli, with tail and primaries growing. Wing covert pattern already visible.

Tables

Juvenile michahellis moult score July 10-11 2002 Etaples & Le Portel (50.42 N, 1.34 E)
no scapulars missing 5
1-5 scapulars missing 10
6-10 scapulars missing 2*
* including 1 bird with tertial #1 missing and 1 individual already growing new scapulars.

 

Yellow-legged Gull michahellis in its southeastern limits. Breeding in Israel.

Nest #01:

Nest #02:

Nest #03:

Nest #08:

Nest #09:

Nest #10:

Nest #11:

 adult michahellis in April. (61415 bytes)Yellow-legged Gull michahellis U0DC 1CY, June 29 2013, Tel Aviv - University Zool. Garden, Israel. Picture: Amir Ben Dov.
adult michahellis in April. (61415 bytes)Yellow-legged Gull michahellis 1CY U0HH June 05 2011, Moaz Aviv, Israel. Picture: Shmulik.
adult michahellis in April. (61415 bytes)Yellow-legged Gull michahellis 1CY U1HB June 18 2010, Tel Aviv University - Zool. Garden, Israel. Picture: Amir Ben Dov.
adult michahellis in April. (61415 bytes)Yellow-legged Gull michahellis 1CY U1HD June 05 2010, Tel Aviv University - Zool. Garden, Israel. Picture: Amir Ben Dov.
adult michahellis in April. (61415 bytes)Yellow-legged Gull michahellis 1CY U1KF June 05 2010, Tel Aviv University - Zool. Garden, Israel. Picture: Amir Ben Dov.
adult michahellis in April. (61415 bytes)Yellow-legged michahellis U2FJ 1CY, June 18 & September 28 2011, Israel. Pictures: Amir Ben Dov. U2FJ, U8BC, U7CF.
adult michahellis in April. (61415 bytes)Yellow-legged Gull michahellis U2KA 1CY, June 29 2013, Tel Aviv - University Zool. Garden, Israel. Picture: Amir Ben Dov.
adult michahellis in April. (61415 bytes)Yellow-legged Gull michahellis 1CY U3FC June 18 2011, Tel Aviv University - Zool. Garden, Israel. Picture: Amir Ben Dov.
adult michahellis in April. (61415 bytes)Yellow-legged Gull michahellis U5BA 1CY & 4CY, June 2011 & April 20 2014, Tel Aviv & Ramat Gan Safari, Israel. Picture: Amir Ben Dov.
adult michahellis in April. (61415 bytes)Yellow-legged Gull michahellis U6AH 1CY, May, June & October 2011, Israel. Pictures: Amir Ben Dov.
adult michahellis in April. (61415 bytes)Yellow-legged Gull michahellis U7CF 1CY & 3CY, June 2011 & March 2013, Tel Aviv & Ashdod, Israel. Picture: Amir Ben Dov.
adult michahellis in April. (61415 bytes)Yellow-legged Gull michahellis 1CY U8BC June 18 2011, Tel Aviv University - Zool. Garden, Israel. Picture: Amir Ben Dov. U2FJ, U8BC, U7CF.
adult michahellis in April. (61415 bytes)Yellow-legged Gull michahellis 1CY U8MA June 18 2011, Tel Aviv University - Zool. Garden, Israel. Picture: Amir Ben Dov.
adult michahellis in April. (61415 bytes)Yellow-legged Gull michahellis U9CD 1CY, June 29 2013, Tel Aviv - University Zool. Garden, Israel. Picture: Amir Ben Dov.
adult michahellis in April. (61415 bytes)Yellow-legged Gull michahellis 1CY U9DB June 18 2011, Tel Aviv University - Zool. Garden, Israel. Picture: Amir Ben Dov.
adult michahellis in April. (61415 bytes)Yellow-legged Gull michahellis 1CY U9HF June 18 2010, Tel Aviv University - Zool. Garden, Israel. Picture: Amir Ben Dov.
adult michahellis in April. (61415 bytes)Yellow-legged Gull michahellis 1CY U9MD June 18 2011, Tel Aviv University - Zool. Garden, Israel. Picture: Amir Ben Dov.
2cy michahellis in August, ringed in Switzerland.Yellow-legged Gull michahellis 1CY HES M0xxxxx June 22 2005, Chablais de Cudrefin, Switzerland. Picture: Stephane Aubry.
2cy michahellis in August, ringed in Switzerland.Yellow-legged Gull michahellis 1CY HES M0xxxxx June 16 2005, Chablais de Cudrefin, Switzerland. Picture: Stephane Aubry.
adult michahellis in April. (61415 bytes)Yellow-legged Gull michahellis 1CY, June 26 2011, Sant Carles de la Rapita - Ebro Delta, Cataluna, Spain. Picture: Chris Gibbins.
adult michahellis in April. (61415 bytes)Yellow-legged Gull michahellis 1CY, June 26 2011, Sant Carles de la Rapita - Ebro Delta, Cataluna, Spain. Picture: Chris Gibbins.
adult michahellis in April. (61415 bytes)Yellow-legged Gull michahellis 1CY, June 26 2011, Sant Carles de la Rapita - Ebro Delta, Cataluna, Spain. Picture: Chris Gibbins.
adult michahellis in April. (61415 bytes)Yellow-legged Gull michahellis 1CY, June 26 2011, Sant Carles de la Rapita - Ebro Delta, Cataluna, Spain. Picture: Chris Gibbins.
adult michahellis in April. (61415 bytes)Yellow-legged Gull michahellis1CY June 18 2011, Tel Aviv University - Zool. Garden, Israel. Picture: Amir Ben Dov.
adult michahellis in April. (61415 bytes)Yellow-legged Gull michahellis 1CY, June 26 2011, Sant Carles de la Rapita - Ebro Delta, Cataluna, Spain. Picture: Chris Gibbins.
adult michahellis in April. (61415 bytes)Yellow-legged Gull michahellis 1CY, June 26 2011, Sant Carles de la Rapita - Ebro Delta, Cataluna, Spain. Picture: Chris Gibbins.
adult michahellis in April. (61415 bytes)Yellow-legged Gull michahellis 1CY, June 26 2011, Sant Carles de la Rapita - Ebro Delta, Cataluna, Spain. Picture: Chris Gibbins.
adult michahellis in April. (61415 bytes)Yellow-legged Gull michahellis 1CY, June 29 2013, Tel Aviv - University Zool. Garden, Israel. Picture: Amir Ben Dov.
adult michahellis in April. (61415 bytes)Yellow-legged Gull michahellis 1CY, June 29 2013, Tel Aviv - University Zool. Garden, Israel. Picture: Amir Ben Dov.
adult michahellis in April. (61415 bytes)Yellow-legged Gull michahellis 1CY, June 29 2013, Tel Aviv - University Zool. Garden, Israel. Picture: Amir Ben Dov.
adult michahellis in April. (61415 bytes)Yellow-legged Gull michahellis 1CY, June 29 2013, Tel Aviv - University Zool. Garden, Israel. Picture: Amir Ben Dov.
adult michahellis in April. (61415 bytes)Yellow-legged Gull michahellis 1CY, June 29 2013, Tel Aviv - University Zool. Garden, Israel. Picture: Amir Ben Dov.
adult michahellis in April. (61415 bytes)Yellow-legged Gull michahellis 1CY, June 29 2013, Tel Aviv - University Zool. Garden, Israel. Picture: Amir Ben Dov.
adult michahellis in April. (61415 bytes)Yellow-legged Gull michahellis 1CY June 18 2011, Tel Aviv University - Zool. Garden, Israel. Picture: Amir Ben Dov.
Chick from mixed nest armenicus x michahellis.
adult michahellis in April. (61415 bytes)Yellow-legged Gull michahellis 1CY June 18 2011, Tel Aviv University - Zool. Garden, Israel. Picture: Amir Ben Dov.
adult michahellis in April. (61415 bytes)Yellow-legged Gull michahellis 1CY June 18 2011, Tel Aviv University - Zool. Garden, Israel. Picture: Amir Ben Dov.
adult michahellis in April. (61415 bytes)Yellow-legged Gull michahellis 1CY June 18 2011, Tel Aviv University - Zool. Garden, Israel. Picture: Amir Ben Dov.
adult michahellis in April. (61415 bytes)Yellow-legged Gull michahellis 1CY June 18 2011, Tel Aviv University - Zool. Garden, Israel. Picture: Amir Ben Dov.
adult michahellis in April. (61415 bytes)Yellow-legged Gull michahellis 1CY June 18 2011, Tel Aviv University - Zool. Garden, Israel. Picture: Amir Ben Dov.
adult michahellis in April. (61415 bytes)Yellow-legged Gull michahellis 1CY June 18 2011, Tel Aviv University - Zool. Garden, Israel. Picture: Amir Ben Dov.
adult michahellis in April. (61415 bytes)Yellow-legged Gull michahellis 1CY June 18 2011, Tel Aviv University - Zool. Garden, Israel. Picture: Amir Ben Dov.
adult michahellis in April. (61415 bytes)Yellow-legged Gull michahellis 1CY, June 10 2011, Tel Aviv - University Zool. Garden, Israel. Picture: Amir Ben Dov.
adult michahellis in April. (61415 bytes)Yellow-legged Gull michahellis 1CY, June 10 2011, Tel Aviv - University Zool. Garden, Israel. Picture: Amir Ben Dov.
adult michahellis in April. (61415 bytes)Yellow-legged Gull michahellis 1CY, June 10 2011, Tel Aviv - University Zool. Garden, Israel. Picture: Amir Ben Dov.
adult michahellis in April. (61415 bytes)Yellow-legged Gull michahellis 1CY, June 10 2011, Tel Aviv - University Zool. Garden, Israel. Picture: Amir Ben Dov.
adult michahellis in April. (61415 bytes)Yellow-legged Gull michahellis 1CY, June 10 2011, Tel Aviv - University Zool. Garden, Israel. Picture: Amir Ben Dov.
adult michahellis in April. (61415 bytes)Yellow-legged Gull michahellis 1CY June 18 2011, Tel Aviv University - Zool. Garden, Israel. Picture: Amir Ben Dov.
2cy michahellis in August, ringed in Switzerland.Yellow-legged Gull michahellis 1CY, June 14 2005, Chablais de Cudrefin, Switzerland. Picture: Stephane Aubry.
2cy michahellis in August, ringed in Switzerland.Yellow-legged Gull michahellis 1CY, June 01 2008, Chablais de Cudrefin, Switzerland. Picture: Stephane Aubry.
1cy michahellis in June. (56841 bytes)Yellow-legged Gull michahellis 1CY, June 28 2002, Dannes - Boulogne/Mer, NW France (50.42 N, 1.34 E). Complete juvenile.