Yellow-legged Gull - Geelpootmeeuw (L. michahellis): sub-ad July

(last update: 08 december 2003)

ORG SITE

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

photo 1940: Yellow-legged Gull michahellis sub-adult, July 10 2002, Etaples, France (50.43N,01.37E).

A sub-adult michahellis with active moult in the tail-feathers and some black on the cutting edge of the lower mandible. The white tip on P10 doesn't merge with the mirror but is separated by a broad sub-terminal band. Some features may indicate this bird is in 4cy:

• The bill has an obvious black mark on the upper mandible near the gonydeal angle.
• The red spot on the gonydeal angle doesn't reach the upper mandible. In older birds this red spot extends on the upper mandible. 
• The iris is pale yellow, unlike the deep yellow iris in most older birds (5⁺cy birds).
• The wing-coverts have a brown hue, especially visible in the outer greater coverts, median coverts and lesser coverts in the carpal edge.
• The tail show some small black spots on the tips of the tail-feathers.