Yellow-legged Gull michahellis
543
C
sub-adult, November
25 2003, Sète, S France. Photo Ruud Altenburg.
In all respects an example of an adult michahellis:
the orbital ring is red, the iris
is yellow with clouded hue, the bill and legs are yellow, although
the red gonydeal spot doesn't continue on the upper mandible. Note the black band on the bill, which is not uncommon in
adult birds in winter, but when this much black is present, it
indicates near-adultness. The mirror on P10 is separated from the white tip
by a complete sub-terminal band. By November, the primary moult is
completed.
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