Yellow-legged Gull L. michahellis
Two first-summer birds, photographed near Wijster in the
This bird shows the long legs and neck and the black stubby bill,
typical for YLG. The overall appearance of this bird is highly contrasting,
with creamy-white feathers with a coarse black marking (double anchor on its
scapulars). It has already moulted all its visible body feathers and is
therefore very neat-looking compared to the 'untidy' 1st summer Herring Gull on
the left, which is just moulting its upper scapulars. The new tertials of the
YLG are blackish and pale-tipped. Some grey adult-like scapulars can be seen on
this bird.
August
12th 2000
This less contrasting and therefore tricky bird however shows the long
legs and wings and the dark, pale-tipped tertials typical of YLG. The scapulars
and coverts look rather neat with a hint of some adult-like feathers on its
back.
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