Notes on Cantabrican Atlantic Yellow-legged Gulls (cantabricans)
Comparison with Herring Gull (argenteus) from Devon, England
Photographs:
Quejo, adult in flight, 5th August 1990
Thin outstretched neck, P1-P3 new, P4-P5 missing, P6-P10 old, white tip P10, mirror P9, very little black on P6 and P7, heavily indented black area on tip
Quejo, adult in flight, 5th August 1990
P1-P3 new, P4-P5 missing, P6-P10 old, large mirror P10, small mirror P9, little black on P6 and P7, heavily indented black area on tip. Bill looks fine, tapered at tip and fairly long
Quejo, adult in flight, 5th August 1990
P1-P4 new, P5-P6 missing, P7-P10 old, large mirror P10, large mirror P9, moderately indented black area on tip
Santoña, adult in flight, 4th August 1990
P1-P3 new, P4 growing, P5 missing, P6-P10 old, dusky spot emerging around eye, small head, slender bill, tapering at tip, black area on outer primaries heavily indented, P10 worn white tip, P9 no mirror
Noja, adult perched, 8th August 1990
Short legs c60% of body above, thin neck, small head, fairly thin tapering bill, quite bright ochre legs and yellow bill, palish blue-grey mantle
Quejo, third-summer/fourth-winter in flight, 5th August 1990
Thin outstretched neck, P1-P3 new, P4-P5 missing, P6-P10 old, no white on old P10 and P9, some slight mottling on coverts
Noja, third-summer perched, 3rd August 1990
Thin neck and small head gives an almost snake-like appearance, bill is thin, fairly long and tapering at the tip, legs are short c65% of body above, residual mottling on coverts, bright yellow bill with orange-red gonydeal spot, bright ochre legs, pale blue-grey mantle
Noja, third-summer perched, 3rd August 1990
Same bird
Quejo, third-summer/fourth-winter in flight, 5th August 1990
Very thin outstretched neck while calling, almost snake like, P1-P4 new, P5 growing, P6 missing, P7-P10 old, small mirror P10, none P9, black bar on P5, no spot P4, residual mottling on secondary bar, leading edge and primary coverts, bill bright yellow
Quejo, second-summer/third-winter in flight, 5th August 1990
Residual secondary bar and mottling on primary coverts, faint tail subterminal band markings, new P1-P4, P5 growing, P6 missing, P7-P10 old, P5 band, P4 no spot
Quejo, first-summer in flight, 5th August 1990
Bold white tail and rump, P1-P8 old, probably still growing P9 and P10 (see left wing), obvious pale primary panel on P1-P3, legs straw colour, pale underneath except for mottling on flanks
Quejo, juvenile in flight, 5th August 1990
Grey brown colour with ruddy tinge on coverts, black bill, dusky head with paler nape and forehead, broad tail band, some mottling on rump and uppertail coverts, strong secondary bar, weak greater coverts bar, indistinct primary panel on inner primaries, bill is long and fairly slender with tapering tip
Royan, France, 13th August 1991, adult perched
One of four adult of this form on Point de Coubre. On structure this is more like a Cantabrican than Mediterranean Yellow-legged Gull michahellis with short legs and thin bill. The legs show an indistinct yellow cast. P7-P10 are old and P6 is missing. In the field in 1991 I had this down as a Herring Gull Larus argenteus south of its usual limits at this time of year. Following the visit in 2002 to Arcachon, it is clear this form occurs in south west France at least in the summer.
20th-26th August 2002 in Arcachon area of south-west France
Arcachon, adult perched, 26th August 2002
Quite a pale mantle, not that much darker than accompanying Black-headed Gull Larus ridibundus. Legs are pink with a very pale yellow cast and bill is yellow with large orange-red gonydeal spot. P8-P10 are old and bunched, P7 is missing and P6 and P5 are new. P5 shows a broad band. The head is quite dusky overall, including the nape, forehead and sides and with pronounced dark eye spot. The bill is fairly tapering at the tip and the legs are short (about 70% of body height above),
Arcachon, adult walking, 26th August 2002
A slighter bird and more retarded in moult with no fresh primary tips visible. The head is small and the bill is rather slender with large orange-red gonydeal spot. The tops of the legs are pinkish. This bird had short legs from another photo (not shown here) at about 75% of body above. The mantle is a pale blue-grey.
Arcachon, adult in flight, 26th August 2002
Same as bird above showing old P8-P10, P7 missing, P6 growing with spot, P5 and P4 new and unmarked. There is a large mirror on P10, a mirror on P9 and a large grey area on inner web of P8.
Cap Ferret, adult feeding, 24th August 2002
Pinky-yellow short legs (about 70% of body height above), large white tip on P10, tapering slender bright yellow bill.
Le Teich, adult with wings open, with michahellis adult and juvenile, 22nd August 2002
Fairly bright ochre legs, wings open showing white tip to P10, mirror on P9, long grey tongue on inner webs of P8 and P7, P6 missing, P5 emerging with spot on outer web, P1-P4 new, no spot on P4. Bill is yellow with large orange-red gonydeal spot, head is small, neck is fine and bill tapers to tip. Mantle is pale blue grey. Two michahellis behind -- adult and juvenile.
Le Teich, adult perched, 22nd August 2002
Same bird showing very short legs (c50% of body above) and fine tip to bill.
Le Teich, adult perched with michahellis first-summer, 22nd August 2002
Same bird showing almost snake-eagle appearance with small head, squarish base of head and long, thin tapering bill, legs are very short (again, c50% of body above), primary tips are bunched with P9 over P10 and P8 close to P9. The Cantabricans is on extreme right.
Le Teich, adult perched with michahellis second-summer and juvenile, 22nd August 2002
Same bird (in middle) showing very short legs compared to two michahellis on each side. White tip to P10,
Le Teich, adult perched, 22nd August 2002
Different bird with paler legs, white mirror on P10, no mirror on P9, P6 growing, P7 missing. Small head and fine neck and lightweight appearance generally.
Arcachon, third-summer perched, 20th August 2002
Mottling on coverts and dark band on bill suggest third-summer. Short legs (60% of body above) show a yellow tinge. Pale blue-grey mantle.
Arcachon, third-summer in flight, 20th August 2002
Same bird as above. Old P7-P10 with mirror P10, no mirror P9. P5 is growing showing thin band and P6 is missing. P1-P4 are new, no spot on P4.
Le Teich, third-summer perched, 22nd August 2002
A broad band on P5, P6 missing, mottling on coverts and relatively bright ochre legs. Legs are short. Pale blue-grey mantle.
Le Teich, third-summer preening, 22nd August 2002
Same bird showing open wing with P8 tip inside of equal-length P9 and P10. P10 has a large mirror, P5 a broad band and P4 a spot. P6 is growing and P7 is absent.
Cap Ferret, third-summer feeding, 24th August 2002
A solider bird than some above with quite a squarish head.. Mottling on coverts. Yellow cast to legs, Legs are short (c70% of body above). No new tips are showing indicating P6 has not re-grown yet. Eye spot is quite dusky.
