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, May 04 2001, Etaples, NW France (50.42N,1.34E).
An
example of a 2CY ("first summer" / first alternate) michahellis with about 8 third generation grey scapulars (50% of the visible area on
side view). By May, only very limited numbers of michahellis lack
grey ot grey-based, third generation scapulars. Nevertheless, as an
identification feature it's not very strong since some argenteus, graellsii and commonly intermedius share this moult strategy of the
scapulars, but it seems to be more common in michahellis and the
advanced stage in some michahellis (over 90% of the scapulars grey)
is very unlikely to be found in LBBG's. Argenteus may show new grey
scapulars, but only a few at most.
Here, note the common pattern on the second generation tertials (all 6
tertials have been moulted) in michahellis: a broad white bar at
the tip and a small sub-terminal band. Almost all visible coverts are
second generation: just a few (1/3) outer greater coverts, outer 20% of
the lessers and outer 25% of the medians on the left wing prove to be
juvenile. Of the many michahellis we saw in Etaples and Le Portel,
2CY birds in May did not really appear white-headed. Here, winter
streaking is concentrated in the lower neck, a feature shared with 2CY cachinnans.
The complete tail appears to be second generation as well.
Note the bill: not necessarily all black in 2CY michahellis.
Probably, this is a female.
