Yellow-legged Gull - Geelpootmeeuw (L. michahellis): 3cy August

(last update: 08 december 2003)

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YLG 1cy May
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YLG 1cy December

photo 01: Yellow-legged Gull michahellis 3cy, August 25 2001, Etaples, France (50.42N,1.34E).

Typical 3cy michahellis in August:

1. Old primaries faded brown and old second generation P10 without a white mirror;
2. Old second generation inner secondaries with brown centre and white fringes and tips creating zigzag pattern in flight;
3. At least a few greater coverts and many lesser coverts (especially in the carpal edge) with brown centres, clearly immature;
4. Moult in the greater coverts. Here the outer greater coverts have been renewed and the inner greater coverts have been shed, exposing the secondaries;
5. Dark markings in the tail;
6. Legs not clear yellow but whitish-yellow or "straw-yellow";
7. Obvious dark markings on the bill;
8. Obvious streaking in the neck, ear coverts and on the nape.