Yellow-legged Gull- Geelpootmeeuw (L. michahellis): 1cy October

(last update: 08 december 2003)

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Photo 6623: YLG (L. michahellis) 1cy, October 01 2001, Le Portel, France.

Most michahellis shed at least some wing-coverts in September, but here is an example of an individual with all coverts and tertials still juvenile. A few inner median coverts seem to show a different pattern compared to the adjacent feathers, but the state of wear in the feathers is pretty much the same and these feathers are believed to belong to the juvenile (first) generation.
This bird shows typical michahellis characteristics: extensive moult in head, breast and under-parts, largely replaced upper and lower scapulars, strong facial expression with the bill showing an obvious gonydeal angle, greater coverts which become gradually darker to the outer-wing, extensive dark centres in the tertials, strong posture.