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Yellow-legged Gull

Larus michahellis michahellis

Photo by Hans.New
Published on Project Noah
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44.8578, 13.8181

Field Notes

Description:

found at the last trip to Istria.

Habitat:

At the coastline in Istria near Pula/Croatia

Species ID Suggestions

Caspian Gull

larus cachinnans

Reference Link
Hans.New
2

Yellow-legged Gull

Larus michahellis michahellis

Reference Link
Malcolm Wilton-Jones
1

Comments (16)
Hans.New
changed that, too. thanks for ID
Malcolm Wilton-Jones
On my ID suggestion I put the michahellis twice as that denotes the Mediterranean sub-species to which it belongs.
Hans.New
thanks for details. The discussion about michahellis and cachinnans was here several times. I´ve changed it to yellow-legged gull. I think, you´re right.
Malcolm Wilton-Jones
It is neither a Herring Gull, nor a Caspian Gull, but a Yellow-legged Gull! However, all three were originally Herring Gull but different sub-species, then they began to be separated following DNA testing, and noth Yellow-legged and Caspian were put together as Larus cachinnans with the Yellow-legged as Larus cachinnans michahelliss, and they are now full species. Following is the current situation (if the paste works correctly)! Larus argentatus Herring Gull Larus argentatus smithsonianus Herring Gull (American) N North America (Alaska to Atlantic coast); winters to C America Larus argentatus vegae Herring Gull (Vega) NE Siberia; winters south to China Larus argentatus argentatus/argenteus Herring Gull (European) Larus argentatus argenteus Northwest Europe; winters to n Iberia Larus argentatus argentatus Scandinavia to Kola Peninsula; winters n and w Europe Larus michahellis Yellow-legged Gull Larus michahellis atlantis Azores Islands Larus michahellis michahellis Macaronesian Is. and nw Africa east through Mediterranean Larus cachinnans Caspian Gull Larus cachinnans cachinnans Caspian Gull (Caspian) Black Sea to Kazakstan; winters to s Asia and ne Africa Larus cachinnans barabensis Caspian Gull (Steppe) Steppes of central Asia; winters mainly in sw Asia east to India Larus cachinnans mongolicus Caspian Gull (Mongolian) SE Altai and Lake Baikal to Mongolia; winters s Asia
Hans.New
As I said before, the legs are extremely yellow, that´s not like a Herring Gull.
injica
well is not caspian, cody was right
KarenL
Nice spot! As the second bird is a different species, please can you create a separate spotting for it & now that you have an ID for both birds can you add the correct common & scientific names to the spottings. Thanks!
Hans.New
yeah, looks like that bird. It´s near Italy and it was in fall. But in fact it looks like that bird.
Stian Waaler
I don't know how the winter are in Slovenia.. Look at this picture and you can see the Black-headed gull in winter plumage http://www.uknatureblog.com/2009/11/black-headed-gull-in-winter-plumage.html
Hans.New
I agree, both pictures are not the same (the second one was smaller), but winter plumage sounds strange, for it was found in Slovenia at about 15 to 20 degrees Celsius. Isn´t that a question of temperature?
Stian Waaler
I agree with HanSiNewcover that is a Caspian Gull.. And your 2nd picture looks like a Black-headed gull in winter plumage..
Hans.New
dont know. In fact the ID Guess by Cody sounds good by looking Pictures of the Herring Gull, but the feet were extremly yellow in this Picture (and the herring gull isn´t that yellow). So I think, it could be the Caspian Gull (which would be the cachinnans)
Ava T-B
I think, based on where you spotted this, that it's a yellow-legged gull (larus cachinnans)

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2012 Best Wildlife Photo
Photographed
PublishedJanuary 29, 2012

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