| Yellow-legged Gull | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Aves |
| Order: | Charadriiformes |
| Family: | Laridae |
| Genus: | Larus |
| Species: | Larus michahellis |
The Yellow-legged Gull (Larus michahellis) is a seabird that was first described in 1840 by Friedrich Naumann, a German scientist and editor.
Taxonomy[]
Until recently, the Yellow-legged Gull was considered a subspecies of the Herring Gull. After the two species were split, the Yellow-legged Gull was sometimes considered to be part of the same species as the Caspian Gull and the combined species was then called Larus cachinnans. But, it is now generally accepted that the Yellow-legged Gull is a full species. The Armenian Gull, Larus armenicus, is closely related to the Yellow-legged Gull, but is currently treated as a separate species due to slight differences in habitat and physical structure.
Subspecies[]
- L. m. michahellis, nominate subspecies, found in the Mediterranean and in the Black Sea;
- L. m. atlantis, found along the Atlantic coast, somewhat smaller in size.
Appearance[]
A juvenile Yellow-legged Gull, displaying the typical mottled upperparts and dark eye-patch.
Third-summer Yellow-legged Gull.
The adult Yellow-legged Gull is a large, stocky white gull with medium gray upperwings and back, black wingtips with a few small white spots, and a red spot on the bright yellow bill. Its legs and feet are yellow, hence its name. The tail is white. The eyes are pale yellow with thin red eye-rings. In winter, it may have some faint streaking on the head. The juvenile has a whitish, streaked body with grey-brown, mottled upperparts, a black tail-band, pinkish legs and a dark bill. Like most large white-headed gulls, the Yellow-legged Gull loses its juvenile plumage as it ages, gradually becoming whiter below and greyer above, fully reaching its adult plumage on its fourth year of life. This bird is about 55-67 cm, (24") long, has a 138-155 cm (55-61") wingspan and weighs 550-1500 g (around 44.8 oz).
Voice[]
The Yellow-legged Gull has at least fifteen different calls, the most common being a long, barking shriek of increasing loudness. Young birds also make mewing and rasping sounds. The Yellow-legged Gull's voice is generally somewhat deeper than the Herring Gull's.
Behaviour[]
Yellow-legged Gulls fighting.
This gull is particularly intelligent, adaptable, and daring. It generally doesn't fear humans, and will approach them for food. It is gregarious and non-migratory. It breeds in colonies and feeds and roosts in large flocks. It may occasionally associate with other birds, including corvids, herons, and other gulls when feeding on fields in winter, but has a generally pugnacious attitude and will attack to assert dominance. It is known to mob birds of prey such as hawks and falcons.
Feeding[]
A second-summer Yellow-legged Gull accidentally drops a fish.
A highly opportunistic omnivore, the Yellow-legged Gull will eat almost anything it can find. This bird makes shallow dives to catch food such as fish and other aquatic creatures, but will also steal and scavenge, attacking other birds to steal their prey and feasting on carcass and rubbish dumps. A ferocious predator, the Yellow-legged Gull also preys upon small rodents such as mice and rats and birds including Starlings, Pigeons, and even smaller gulls, such as Black-headed Gulls. It is capable of swallowing large prey whole. Due to its habit of plundering nests to take eggs and chicks, the Yellow-legged Gull is a serious threat to other, rarer species, such as Audouin's Gull.
Nesting[]
The Yellow-legged Gull is monogamous and colonial. These birds usually pair for life, but may "divorce" if they don't succeed in raising a brood together. During the courtship display, the female walks slowly around her mate with her neck folded back and her bill pointed upwards. The male raises his head and points his bill downwards, feeding the female as she begs for food. Pair-bonding behaviour also involves walking side by side and calling in unison. The nest is built by both sexes, and is usually located on the ground, on cliff ledges, or on buildings. It is lined with debris, grass, feathers and other soft materials. In late March, the female lays 2-3 eggs, which are buff or olive with brown, black, or olive markings. They are incubated by both adults for 28 to 30 days. Both parents feed regurgitated food to their chicks, which is stimulated by the young pecking on the red spot on the adults' bill. Young Yellow-legged gulls are semi-precocial, staying near the nest 35 to 45 days before fledging.
Distribution and habitat[]
The Yellow-legged Gull is an Afro-Eurasian gull that very rarely wanders to Newfoundland or the north Atlantic Coast. It is essentially the Herring Gull's southern counterpart. It is typical of the Mediterranean and of the Black Sea, but also breeds along the Atlantic coast of France, Spain, Portugal and Morocco, and in Macaronesia. Isolated populations are found in central Europe as well. It lives by the sea as well as on lakes and, sometimes, rivers. It has become an invasive species in urban areas, where it thrives as a scavenger. It is southern Europe's most common gull along with the Black-headed Gull.
Gallery[]
