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).
2CY michahellis, which is probably a female, with many third
generation grey scapulars (95%); only a few scapulars are still
second generation. The most recently moulted scapulars show a
blue-grey hue.
This michahellis shows a unique tail-pattern, in it being
almost as in second winter GBBG (L. marinus): a broad white
fringe with very thin black sub-terminal markings (hardly a
tail-band). The upper-tail coverts are white in most second calendar
year michahellis, but here they show chevrons.
Active moult in the primaries has started: P1-P3 have been
shed. In Etaples, many 2CY michahellis and graellsii/intermedius have started to moult their primaries by early May.
Most of the wing-coverts (especially in the outer wing) are very
abraded juvenile feathers. The inner 10 median coverts and 4 central
lesser coverts are second generation, all the greater coverts are
old.
The tertials: #1 and #3 are second generation, #2 is missing and the
lower 3 are juvenile. The outer median and lower lesser coverts have
been dropped.
