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, February 06 2003, Le Portel / Boulogne-sur-Mer, France (50.42N,01.34E).
2CY michahellis which has
replaced the head, neck, breast and flanks to second generation in the
first pre-basic moult. It
also included some wing-coverts and tertials in this moult: In
the right wing, tertials #1-3, greater coverts #1-4, median coverts #1-13,
lower lesser coverts #1-14 and about 20 lesser coverts are second
generation as well, with still active moult in progress in the lesser
coverts. The last moulted feathers show broad fringes.
The other wing-coverts, the tail feathers and flight-feathers are still juvenile.
The lowest row of scapulars are fresh second generation feathers with a
buffish base
and neat fringes on
the last replaced feathers. About seven upper scapulars have been replaced
recently for buffish-centred third generation feather. In 2CY michahellis it's common to find birds
starting to replace upper scapulars to third generation feathers while
the rear lowest scapulars have only very recently been replaced for second
generation feathers. By this stage, this individual shows first generation
feathers (remiges, rectrices, most wing-coverts), second generation
feathers (the head, body, most scapulars and some wing-coverts) and at the
same time third generation feathers (a few lower upper scapulars).
Note that the head and neck are by no way pure white, with dark streaking
concentrated around the eye which extends on the nape and a bolder streaked neck-collar. The
dark bill starts to turn paler at the base.
