1cy Yellow-legged Gull

Yellow-legged Gull - Larus michahellis

1: © Ruud Altenburg, 24-11-03. Port-la-Nouvelle. 1cy that has replaced an average number of coverts. Note the very typical shape of the head!

Yellow-legged Gull - Larus michahellis

2: © Ruud Altenburg, 23-11-03. Roses. 1cy. Note the greyish, adult-like scapular.

Yellow-legged Gull - Larus michahellis

3: © Mars Muusse, 23-11-03. Roses. A striking 1cy with an atypically narrow anchor-pattern in its scapulars and greater coverts. This bird already shows several third generation scapulars. Half of the bill has already turned pinkish.

Yellow-legged Gull - Larus michahellis

4: © Ruud Altenburg, 22-11-03. Banyuls-sur-Mer. This 1cy has moulted an "over average" number of coverts, especially in the medians. Again, note the typical shape of the head.

Yellow-legged Gull - Larus michahellis

5: © Ruud Altenburg, 26-11-03. Port Saint-Louis. White 947X, ringed in Port Saint-Louis on 23-05-03. This 1cy is very unusual in showing an almost entirely grey mantle already in its first calender year.

Yellow-legged Gull - Larus michahellis

6: © Ruud Altenburg, 24-11-03. L'Estartit. A very advanced 1cy that has replaced most of the visible lowest and median coverts as well as all tertials.

Yellow-legged Gull - Larus michahellis

7: © Ruud Altenburg, 25-11-03. Sète. Another very advanced 1cy, similar to 6, but the lower two tertials are still juvenile.

Yellow-legged Gull - Larus michahellis

8: © Ruud Altenburg, 25-11-03. Sète. An extremely advanced 1cy that only shows just one or maybe two juvenile coverts (in the outer lessers). Dark pigment on the pink bill is resticted to the tip.