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, October 01 2001, Le Portel, France.
The central and outer greater coverts are
still old second generation feathers and they show a rather washed-out
pattern of speckling and variegated barring, especially on the visible
outermost feathers. The recently moulted median coverts are greyish, yet
still showing a dark shaft streak and arrow-head patterns near the tips.
In the median coverts, some fresh greyish feathers are growing in, but
there are almost no moult gaps visible. The scapulars are a mix of old
patterned feathers (brown bars on a pale buffish or white base) and fresh
scapulars which are all grey or show an ill-defined brown shaft streak and
sub-terminal band.
Primary P10 is fully grown and the tail is completely replaced for second
generation rectrices.
Note the fine head streaking on the recently moulted head feathers and faint brown pattern on the flank feathers. Just beneath the greater coverts, the secondary tips are visible: black-brown centres with washed-out brownish tips.
