Yellow-legged Gull- Geelpootmeeuw (L. michahellis): 2cy October

(last update: 08 december 2003)

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YLG 1cy July
YLG 1cy August
YLG 1cy September
YLG 1cy October
YLG 1cy November
YLG 1cy December

photo 5429: Yellow-legged Gull michahellis 2cy, October 04 2002, Etaples, France.

A very barred individual, obviously different from the advanced-looking previous bird (click thumbnail), which appears to be more adult-like, although the moult stage almost matches.

Many feather tracts of the wing are included in the partial moult, but there are no obvious moult gaps in the wing-coverts, so this partial moult is nearly completed. The following feathers have been included in the partial moult:
The upper tertial is new and tertial #2 is growing.
Greater covert moult stage: #1-2 fully grown, other greater coverts still old.
Median covert moult stage: all feathers have been replaced although #5 is still growing.
Lower lesser coverts: #1-2 are still old, #3 is fully grown, #4-7 are growing (growing outwards with #4 > #7), #8 is missing and is the last visible feather. In the field, the outer lower lesser coverts appeared to be replaced and were growing as well, in descending order. 
Lesser coverts: 25% is new, a few are missing and over 50% is old.
All scapulars (100%) show a barred pattern without any moult gap.
Legs are pinkish-pale yellow, the base of the lower mandible is pale, the iris is dark, the orbital ring is brown.