Friday 10 September 2010

Yellow-legged Gull (Larus michahellis), 1cy, 10.9.2010, Aarhus Harbor

This is the first Yellow-legged Gull (Larus michahellis) in Aarhus Harbor this summer, but the autumn will probably bring a few adults as usual, but 1cy individuals are quite rare with less than a handful of records in total. Thus in local east Jutland perspective the species is quite scarce and the bird today even belongs to a rare age class.

Note the "apical spots" on p2-p4, in comparison to 1cy Caspian Gulls










Note especially in the video hove fare the primaries project beyond tail compared to same aged argentatus and please also note that the exposed primaries are jet black whereas argentatus has a more brownish wash to it.

The juvenile plumage is quite worn and the moult is rather progressed compared to same aged argentatus with most of the mantle, lower scapulars and even a few wing coverts being renewed. Such advancement in moult is a classical michahellis feature.






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