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 ?37V November 27 2003, Port la Nouvelle, S France.
This 1CY michahellis has a white tibia ring ?37V. It has obviously replaced wing-coverts and tertials in the post-juvenile moult. All the scapulars have been replaced for second generation feathers, including the rear lower scapulars, the ones covering the scapular coverts. In the upper scapulars, a subsequent moult to third generation feathers has started (over 75% is third generation), very second generation-like in pattern, with a anchor pattern and grey-base, easiest recognised by the with broad neat fringes.
The partial autumn moult included the three upper tertials, four innermost greater coverts, seven inner median coverts, six inner lower lesser coverts and about 9 of the inner lesser coverts. All primaries and rectrices are still juvenile, probably the secondaries as well. Note the pale tip of the bill.
