Adult Southern Atlantic Yellow-legged Gull -- Southern atlantis

Textual Notes:

Features of adult Southern Atlantic Yellow-legged Gulls, including regional variation

Photographs:

Santa Cruz, Tenerife, Canaries, 16 August 1998, adult perched

A chunky individual with a heavy bill and short sturdy legs. P8-P10 are old, P7 has been shed and P5 and P6 are new. There is some concentration of speckles around the eye.

Los Cristianos, Tenerife, Canaries, August 1998, adult landing

Los Gigantes, Tenerife, Canaries, August 1998, adult in flight

Los Cristianos, Tenerife, Canaries, August 1998, adult perched

Playa de las Americas, Tenerife, Canaries, August 1998, group of adults on golf course

San Sebastian, Gomera, Canaries, August 1998, adult in flight

Puerto del Carmen, Lanzarote, Canaries, August 1992, adult perched

Puerto del Carmen, Lanzarote, Canaries, August 1992, two adults on boat

Caleta del Sebo, Graciosa, Canaries, August 1992, adult perched

Puerto de la Estaca, El Hierro, Canaries, August 2000, adult in flight

Santa Cruz, La Palma, Canaries, August 2000, adult in flight

Santa Cruz, La Palma, Canaries, August 2000, adult standing

Asilah, Morocco, August 1994, adult perched

Las Palmas, Gran Canaria, Canaries, 24 September 2000, wings of adult in flight

Typical adult moult at this time of year with P1-P8 new and fully grown and the new P9 and P10 partially grown. No old feathers are retained. P5 shows a broad band and P4 is unmarked.

Las Palmas, Gran Canaria, Canaries, 24 September 2000, adult perched calling

This adult has new P1-P8 with P8 probably still growing. Old P9 and P10 have been shed. The head is faintly speckled, the bare parts are a dull yellow and the gonydeal spot is dull. The legs are short and the head is rounded.

Las Palmas, Gran Canaria, Canaries, 24 September 2000, adult perched

A solid individual with slightly longer legs than usual. This one has new P1-P7 and the old P8-P10 have been shed. P8 has still to grow to its full length outside P7. The chest is bold and the head is heavy. The legs are a pale yellow and the feet have a slight pinkish tinge.

Morro del Jable, Fuerteventura, Canaries, 29 September 2000, adult perched

Very dumpy-looking individual with new P6 and P7 showing and P8-P10 growing or missing. Leg (one missing?) is short and a rather dull ochre. Head and neck are solid. Bill shows steep angle at culmen and large orange-red spot. Mantle is a darkish blue-grey. Head is almost white except for dark eye spot.

Morro del Jable, Fuerteventura, Canaries, 29 September 2000, adult in flight

An advanced individual with P1-P8 new and fully grown, P9 almost fully grown and P10 75% grown. P9 does not carry a mirror, P10 carries a large mirror. The trailing edge on the secondaries is relatively conspicuous post-moult. P5 carries a thin band and P4 is unmarked. This bird carries relatively little black from P5-P8 lacking the solid triangle.

Los Cristianos, Tenerife, Canaries, December 1996, adult perched

Garachico, Tenerife, Canaries, December 1996, two adults perched

Camara de Lobos, Madeira, 30 March 2002, adult in flight

Complete white tip to P10, no mirror on P9, extensive almost triangular black area on outer primaries. Quite a common pattern on the Atlantic but not so common here with only 8% showing a complete white tip to P10.

Camara de Lobos, Madeira, 31 March 2002, adult in flight

A large mirror on P10 almost reaching the tip, no mirror on P9, extensive triangular area of black on outer primaries

Ponta de Cruz, Madeira, 27 March 2002, adult in flight

A small mirror on P10 and none on P9. Relatively common pattern (32%) on Madeira.

Ponta de Cruz, Madeira, 27 March 2002, adult in flight

A rare form on Madeira -- much more like some birds in the clinal zone of west Portugal. Large white tip to P10, mirror P9, indented black triangular area, only a spot on outer web of P5, relatively fine bill. A pitfall as a graellsii x argenteus hybrid in some circles.

Porto Moniz, Madeira, 28 March 2002, adult in flight

Large white mirror P10, small mirror P9, extensive triangular black area on outer primaries, broad band P5, no black P4. Typical except for the mirror on P9, found in only 16% of adults on Madeira.

Porto Moniz, Madeira, 28 March 2002, adult standing

Same bird as shown above in flight at Porto Moniz. Heavy bill, short bright yellow legs, bunched primary tips, head slightly boxy.

Funchal, Madeira, 26 March 2002, adult perched on beach

Stubby bill with large red gonydal spot, lurid short yellow legs about 75% of body height, rounded head, bunched primary tips with P9 over P10 and P8 close to P9, tail reaches almost to P7.

Ribeira Brava, Madeira, 28 March 2002, adult perched on beach

Light build with small head and thin neck, dark blue-grey mantle, short ochre legs, bill relatively heavy and with blunt tip.

Porto de Abrigo, Porto Santo, Madeira, 29 March 2002, adult perched

From island Porto Santo to NW of Madeira. Short legs, stubby bill and red orbital ring.

Caleta de Fustes, Fuerteventura, Canaries, April 1999, adult perched

Corralejo, Fuerteventura, Canaries, April 1999, adult in flight

Gran Tarajal, Fuerteventura, Canaries, April 1999, wing of adult road casualty

Agadir, Morocco, April 1998, two adults perched

Agadir, Morocco, April 1998, adult in flight

Agadir, Morocco, April 1998, two adults perched

Agadir, Morocco, April 1998, one adult in flight

Agadir, Morocco, April 2000, three adults in roof-top colony at the Amadil Beach Hotel