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, May 04 2001, Boulogne-sur-Mer, France (50.42N,1.34E).
By May, 3CY michahellis show yellow legs, a clear yellow base
of the bill, a red gonydeal spot (although often obscured by the black
bill-band) and almost complete grey upper-parts (mantle and scapular region). The
complete moult in the wing-coverts has started in this individual.
Most grey feathers in the wing-coverts are in better condition than the
barred feathers, and apparently moulted later, i.e. in the partial autumn
moult in 2CY (September-October). This individual has included only few
wing-coverts in the partial moult, but note that some of these feathers
are still second generation-like in their pattern. The two inner greater coverts, the inner
and central medians and a few lower lesser coverts have been repaced last
autumn. The two upper tertials are at least third generation as well, maybe even fourth
generation, depending on the extend of the partial post-juvenile moult and
the partial autumn moult as 2CY.
Note the colour of the iris and the orbital ring.
