photo 418: Yellow-legged Gull michahellis
(sub)adult, November 23 2003, Sète, S France.
Typical michahellis. By November, the primary moult is
completed. In adult michahellis, the orbital ring is red, the iris
is often clear yellow without speckling, the bill and legs are yellow and
the red gonydeal spot continues on the upper mandible (unlike most argenteus).
Note the black band on the bill; some black is not uncommon in
adult birds in winter, but this might indicate sub-adultness. The mirror on P10 is separated from the white tip
by a complete sub-terminal band.
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