Yellow-legged
Gull - Larus michahellis
(last update: October 08 2013)
Coordinators:
Delfín González
Gabriel Martín
Antonio Gutierrez
Amir Ben Dov
Mars Muusse
Yellow-legged Gull michahellis 1CY, December 21 2001, Westkapelle, the Netherlands (51.33N, 3.25E).
All the mantle feathers and scapulars have been replaced for second generation feathers. The wing-coverts are still juvenile, abraded at the fringes and particularly the white notches have been worn away (see e.g. in the innermost greater coverts). Note the elongated attenuated rear end of the body and the relatively dark inner and outer-web, from p10 to p4. The white head is rather sharply demarcated from the greyish collar. The head, neck, breast and belly have been moulted to second generation feathers. Note the pale flesh-coloured legs with long tibia and pale shins. Remarkably, in mid-winter, the majority of michahellis from SW Netherlands and Le Portel (NW France) still show completely juvenile wing-coverts. This contradicts with the figures from July - September, so different individuals (and even different populations?) may be involved throughout the months.
