Please note: esp. immature large gulls are notoriously difficult to ID due to very variable plumage features and frequent hybridisation with other Larus sp.<\/em><\/p>\n – large gull, about the size of European Herring Gull >> VISUAL ID >>>>><\/strong><\/p>\n >> ACOUSTIC ID >>>>><\/strong><\/p>\n – no particular flight calls >> COMPARISON SPECIES >>>>><\/strong><\/p>\n Pallas\u2019s Gull #gulls #laridae<\/p>\n #ornithology #birdmigration #birdID #birdguide #birding #birdwatching #birdsound #westernpalearctic #europe #vismig #flightcalls #middleeast #northernafrica #workinprogress<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" > GENERAL >>>>> Please note: esp. immature large gulls are notoriously difficult to ID due to very variable plumage features and frequent hybridisation with other Larus sp. – large gull, about the size of European Herring Gull – probably mainly diurnal migrant – migrates singly or in small flocks in formation – long-range dispersal of … Continue reading Yellow-legged Gull
\n– probably mainly diurnal migrant
\n– migrates singly or in small flocks in formation
\n– long-range dispersal of juveniles<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/BIF3459_MGR_28082015_LARMIC_K1_Mallorca.jpg\")
<\/a>
\nYellow-legged Gull Larus michahellis<\/em>, 1CY\/JUV<\/strong>
\nBIF3459, 28\/08\/2015, Mallorca, Spain, Martin Grimm
\n– overall contrasting plumage pattern
\n– inner primaries only slightly brightened, no explicit bright triangle
\n– tail with broad black terminal band
\n– sparsely marked bright uppertail coverts
\n– pale head with dark ‘mask’
\n– blunt dull black bill<\/p>\n<\/a>
\nYellow-legged Gull Larus michahellis<\/em>, 1CY\/1W<\/strong>
\nBIF3460, 07\/11\/2009, North Sea, Mathias Putze
\n– contrasting plumage pattern, reminiscent of same-aged Great Black-backed Gull
\n– inner primaries only slightly brightened, no explicit bright triangle (subterminal brightenings inner web of P5-1 within range )
\n– even chequerboard pattern on inner secondary coverts
\n– dark markings on nape, neck and flanks, ventral plumage<\/p>\n<\/a>
\nYellow-legged Gull Larus michahellis<\/em>, 1CY\/1W<\/strong>
\nBIF3461, 07\/11\/2009, North Sea, Mathias Putze
\n– inner primaries only slightly brightened, no explicit bright triangle (subterminal brightenings inner web of P5-1 within range )
\n– dark, strongly marked underwing
\n– dark markings on nape, neck and flanks, ventral plumage
\n– under tail coverts clean white<\/p>\n
\nYellow-legged Gull Larus michahellis<\/em>, 1CY\/1W<\/strong>
\nBIF7010, 06\/01\/2022, Lake Kerkini, Greece, Mathias Putze
\n– tail with broad black terminal band
\n– contrasting plumage pattern, reminiscent of same-aged Great Black-backed Gull<\/p>\n<\/a>
\nYellow-legged Gull Larus michahellis<\/em>, 1CY\/1W (left)<\/strong>
\nCaspian Gull Larus cachinans<\/em>, 2CY\/2W (right)<\/strong>
\nBIF3411, 07\/10\/2012, Saxony, Germany, Mathias Putze
\n– 1CY (left)
\n– highly-contrasting mantle pattern, resembles Great Black-backed Gull of the same age
\n– inner primary window only slightly lightened
\n– contrasting black and white tail
\n– diffuse dark markings on nape, neck and flanks, ventral plumage clean white
\n– pale head with only a hint of a ‘mask’<\/p>\n<\/a>
\nYellow-legged Gull Larus michahellis<\/em>, 1CY\/1W (left)<\/strong>
\nCaspian Gull Larus cachinans<\/em>, 2CY\/2W (right)<\/strong>
\nPallas’s Gull Ichthyaetus ichthyaetus<\/em>, 1CY\/1W<\/strong>
\nBIF3471, 07\/10\/2012, Saxony, Germany, Mathias Putze
\n– quite solidly dark underwing coverts
\n– light head with dark ‘mask’
\n– pale breast and belly
\n– unmarked, clean white undertail coverts<\/p>\n<\/a>
\nYellow-legged Gull Larus michahellis<\/em>, 2CY<\/strong>
\nBIF3491, 05\/05\/2021, Ammernsee, Germany, Mathias Putze
\n– quite solidly dark underwing coverts
\n– light head, contrasting dark eye-mask
\n– white rump and tail-base, dark terminal tail banf<\/p>\n<\/a>
\nYellow-legged Gull Larus michahellis<\/em>, 3CY\/2S<\/strong>
\nBIF3464, 19\/09\/2018, Croatia, Martin Grimm
\n– most of the greater and primary coverts and carpal area still brown
\n– P10\/9 still growing, light subterminal spot on P10
\n– inner primaries bright grey, adult like
\n– P10-4 with first small white terminal spots, note some brown colouration in primaries
\n– brightened, blunt bill with some red on gonys, much black markings and subterminal band<\/p>\n<\/a>
\nYellow-legged Gull Larus michahellis<\/em>, 3CY\/3W<\/strong>
\nBIF3462, 19\/12\/2020, Rastatt, Germany, Mathias Putze
\n– tail and remiges 3rd generation
\n– primaries very dark, inner secondaries lightened, grey, adult like
\n– P6-4 with first white terminal spots
\n– note: no bright subterminal spot on P10
\n– tail white, with only rudimentary black markings left
\n– relatively steep forehead
\n– massive, pale yellow, parallel-edged, blunt bill with first red on the gonys and black subterminal band<\/p>\n<\/a>
\nYellow-legged Gull Larus michahellis<\/em>, 3CY\/3W<\/strong>
\nBIF3463, 19\/12\/2020, Rastatt, Germany, Mathias Putze
\n– underwing primary coverts surprisingly strongly marked
\n– body plumage and head predominantly white
\n– discreet head markings around the eye (already rather pale iris)
\n– brown-red orbital ring<\/p>\n<\/a>
\nYellow-legged Gull Larus michahellis<\/em>, 3CY\/3W<\/strong>
\nBIF3470, 19\/12\/2020, Rastatt, Germany, Mathias Putze
\n– largely white body but still well marked underwing coverts
\n– head with some markings around the eye<\/p>\n<\/a>
\nYellow-legged Gull Larus michahellis<\/em>, 4CY\/3W<\/strong>
\nBIF3505, 07\/02\/2021, Ammersee, Germany, Mathias Putze<\/p>\n<\/a>
\nYellow-legged Gull Larus michahellis<\/em>, 4CY\/3W<\/strong>
\nBIF3505, 07\/02\/2021, Ammersee, Germany, Mathias Putze<\/p>\n<\/a>
\nYellow-legged Gull Larus michahellis<\/em>, 5CY\/4W<\/strong>
\nBIF3505, 07\/02\/2021, Ammersee, Germany, Mathias Putze<\/p>\n<\/a>
\nYellow-legged Gull Larus michahellis<\/em>, 5CY\/4W<\/strong>
\nBIF3505, 07\/02\/2021, Ammersee, Germany, Mathias Putze<\/p>\n<\/a>
\nYellow-legged Gull Larus michahellis<\/em>, AD BREED<\/strong>
\nBIF3465, 26\/04\/2014, Saxony, Germany, Mathias Putze
\n– classic bird
\n– much black in the hand
\n– broad, continuous black subterminal band on P5, narrow on P10 (-> L. cachinnans AD with completely white tip)
\n– small white terminal spots on primaries, relatively small white mirror on P9 (-> L. cachinnans)
\n– bright (orange)-yellow bare-parts
\n– warm yellow iris (‘gentle look’ (-> argentatus), bright red orbital ring<\/p>\n<\/a>
\nYellow-legged Gull Larus michahellis<\/em>, AD BREED<\/strong>
\nBIF3466, 15\/06\/2007, Spain, Martin Grimm
\n– massive, parallel-edged, blunt bill, massive gonys, red in gonys area extends to upper bill
\n– bright iris, bright red orbital ring
\n– red gape<\/p>\n<\/a>
\nYellow-legged Gull Larus michahellis<\/em>, AD BREED<\/strong>
\nBIF3467, 15\/06\/2007, Spain, Martin Grimm
\n– relatively long-winged appearance
\n– small white terminal spots on primaries, no mirror on P9 (->L. cachinnans)<\/p>\n<\/a>
\nYellow-legged Gull Larus michahellis<\/em>, AD BREED<\/strong>
\nBIF3468, 01\/03\/2007, Spain, Martin Grimm
\n– appears like an European Herring Gull judging from this single photo
\n– little black in hand (P10-6)
\n– completely white tip on P10, no black band (not even a comma) on P5
\n– very long grey areas on primary’s inner web
\n– appears small-headed with pale iris, piercing ‘cat-eye’
\n– orbital ring and gape difficult to judge, but rather yellowish-orange
\n– weak, pale coloured gonys
\n– leg colour not to judge<\/p>\n<\/a>
\nYellow-legged Gull Larus michahellis<\/em>, AD BREED<\/strong>
\nBIF3469, 26\/04\/2014, Saxony, Germany, Mathias Putze
\n– classic bird
\n– mantle slighlty darker than average Herring Gull
\n– relatively long-winged appearance, much black in the hand
\n– broad, continuous black subterminal band on P5 stands out
\n– underwing: grey areas on inner webs of the primaries short – ending U-shaped (diffuse in Caspian Gull – right-angled in European Herring Gull)<\/p>\n<\/a>
\nYellow-legged Gull Larus michahellis<\/em>, AD BREED<\/strong>
\nBIF3492, 30\/03\/2021, Mittenbach, Germany, Mathias Putze
\n– small mirror on P10
\n– little black in hand (P10-6)<\/p>\n
\n– sometimes some chatting especially during nocturnal flights or near man-made structures<\/p>\n
\nCommon Gull
\nRing-billed Gull
\nCape Gull
\nLesser Black-backed Gull
\nBaltic Gull
\nHeuglin\u2019s Gull
\nSteppe Gull
\nEuropean Herring Gull
\nArmenian Gull
\nCaspian Gull<\/a>
\nVega Gull
\nAmerican Herring Gull
\nThayer\u2019s Gull
\nIceland Gull
\nSlaty-backed Gull
\nGlaucous-winged Gull
\nGlaucous Gull
\nGreat Black-backed Gull<\/p>\n
Larus michahellis<\/em><\/span>