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 2CY, April 19 2002, Etaples, NW France (50.42N,1.34E).
Another example of a slightly delayed moulting 2CY michahellis. Most of the wing-coverts and tertials are still juvenile, but a few inner median and lower lesser coverts have been replaced in the post-juvenile moult last autumn. Active moult was suspended and by mid-April no wing-coverts are missing. In the rear lower scapulars you find a few very fresh feathers with an obvious anchor shaped pattern on a white base. In the lower upper scapulars the fresh feathers are grey based and show a similar anchor pattern and a neat white fringe. These third generation are very second generation-like in the pattern. Note the neck-collar consisting of bold streaking, running down along the side-breast.
