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 22 2001, Westkapelle, the Netherlands.
The common moult strategy in the coverts is shown by quite some birds depicted in this October Section: the innermost median and greater coverts are actively moulted, some lesser coverts are moulted randomly and most of the outer and central median coverts are replaced.
Here is an example of a different, random moult sequence in the greater coverts. The inner 7 greater coverts show bold contrasting patterns, #8-9 are grey-brown, moulted more recently, as were #11-14 and probably more outer greater coverts. The median coverts and tertials are all well-patterned and the fringes show extensive wear.
