Yellow legged Gull ? (1 Viewer)

[Michał Jaro]

First - Poland , Podhale , 3 may
2 gulls - and in my opinion 2 Yellow-legged (or it's time to give up on recognizing gulls ) . Among other things, I remembered from Lou that black band tapering towards corners in michahellis. Lack of mirrors , lack of evident window, uniform back - 3 year?

 

[Harrybongo]

Hi, Michal. Like you, and many others, I struggle with gulls and, am no expert! But, looking at the head shape - slanted narrow forehead - and bill length/shape, I'm leaning toward Caspian chachinnans chachinnans? Sorry, not a very detailed I'd. I'm sure, Lou S/A Stohr, will be along soon, to give you a far more in depth, and, correct I'd.

 

[Michał Jaro]

Thanks a lot , but as I wrote, Lou opinion (from other thread) was: "black band tapering towards corners in michahellis". Another question:
what about mirror on primaries ?

 

[Alexander Stöhr]

Hello,

thanks Harry! Please note, that my part is only the in depth comment, while Lou is the one for in depth comments and confident correct ID.

Please note iirc the difference in tail-band is (mostly?)for 1st cycle birds. Such a narrow tail band is regular in 2nd cycle Caspian Gulls (or the ones I think I can do in NE-Germany)

(and yes variation, but the underwing seems unmarked whitish. Shouldnt many YLG still have some barring dark parts?)

So I agree with Harry: both look good for 3cy Caspian Gulls for me. But... thanks Lou!

 

[Harrybongo]

Hello,

thanks Harry! Please note, that my part is only the in depth comment, while Lou is the one for in depth comments and confident correct ID.

Please note iirc the difference in tail-band is (mostly?)for 1st cycle birds. Such a narrow tail band is regular in 2nd cycle Caspian Gulls (or the ones I think I can do in NE-Germany)

(and yes variation, but the underwing seems unmarked whitish. Shouldnt many YLG still have some barring dark parts?)

So I agree with Harry: both look good for 3cy Caspian Gulls for me. But... thanks Lou!

You're, far too modest, Alexander! ☺

 

[lou salomon]

like Alexander said, the narrow tapering tail band is a feature in 1st cycle michahellis for separation from Herring or Caspian Gulls, note however that quite some baltic HG do have a narrow and contrasting tail band! These are both 2nd cycles (note grey mantle and scapulars) and both look good for cachinnans, especially on almost patternless coverts. Tail band in 2nd cycles is extremely variable in all large gull taxa with a slight tendency for michahellis to show tails like this but many cachinnans also can look like it. I think the majority of 2nd cycle cachinnans have much more black in tail, up to completely black rectrices.

 

[Michał Jaro]

And everything is clear , thanks so much Lou, Alex, Harry!
- but I still have to ask about the mirror? Are there no differences between Gulls in 2nd cycle ? Shouldn't caspian have a single (p10) after all?

 

[lou salomon]

nearly 50% don't have a mirror.