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 3CY, February & March 2003, Etaples, NW France (50.42N,1.34E).
Classic 3CY michahellis, showing plain grey scapulars (except two rear lowest scapulars) and a mix of grey wing-coverts and central tertials combined with older abraded barred wing-coverts. By February, the colour of the bare parts is still immature, but within two months, the base of the bill and the legs will turn bright yellow after the partial moult in spring. All head-streaking will disappear as well, leaving birds with clean white head and under-parts.
February 06 2003
February 06 2003
February 06 2003
February
09 2003
February
09 2003
February
09 2003
Yellow-legged Gull michahellis 3CY, March 18 2003, Etaples, France (50.42N,1.34E).
Still present. 3CY michahellis in spring, showing
plain grey scapulars and a mix of several grey median coverts and older barred
lesser and greater coverts. The colour of the bare parts was still
immature one month ago, but by mid-March the base of the bill and the legs turn
already slightly
yellow. After the partial moult is finished by late-April, the legs will
appear deep yellow and the head-streaking will disappear, leaving birds with clean white head and under-parts.
Note the pale iris and the reddish orbital ring. This individual was
already present at Etaples in February 2003 (click HERE),
still showing the displaced greater coverts in the left wing.
