Yellow-legged Gull
(Larus michahellis) Gulls, Terns and Skimmers (Laridae)
dk: Middelhavssølvmåge es: Gaviota Patiamarillas
2386 (1 photos) 2016-10-25 Villa di Borghese, Rome, Italy
Adult. Only the hand gives indications of it being this species. Very much black with narrow well-defined white tips to P5-P9. P10 has the typical elongated white tip. Common in Rome.
2387 (1 photos) 2016-10-25 Villa di Borghese, Rome, Italy
Adult. Weakly streaked head in winter. The strongly colored red eyering is classic for the species. Also adult birds can show a faint rest of black on the bill.
2388 (2 photos) 2016-10-25 Villa di Borghese, Rome, Italy
Adult. An individual with very much black in the hand.P10 has a black subterminal band, and also a hint of black on P4. The dark spots on the bill, I think, has to do with non-breeding season rather than age-related.
2390 (1 photos) 2016-10-25 Villa di Borghese, Rome, Italy
Adult. The red gonys spot is limited to the lower mandible which is normal for this species. Also here remnants of dark on the bill.
2391 (1 photos) 2016-10-25 Villa di Borghese, Rome, Italy
Adult. Looks like an individual with very much white on the P10.
2392 (2 photos) 2016-10-25 Villa di Borghese, Rome, Italy
Adult type. Characteristic eye ring, bill and hand.
2393 (3 photos) 2016-10-25 Villa di Borghese, Rome, Italy
Adult. Almost identically to 2388, or perhaps the same bird.
2394 (1 photos) 2016-10-25 Villa di Borghese, Rome, Italy
Adult. Individual with all white tip to P10, and nothing dark on P4.
2395 (3 photos) 2016-10-25 Villa di Borghese, Rome, Italy
1cy bird. Broad well-defined black tail band with pure white tail base, strong bill and rather whitish underside with only a few dark speckles on the breast are good indications of this species.
2396 (7 photos) 2016-10-25 Villa di Borghese, Rome, Italy
1cy bird. Strong mostly blackish bill, square head with dark around the eye, well-marked black tail band, tertials almost uniform and bright underside. A worn individual with remiges not molted yet.
2397 (7 photos) 2016-10-25 Villa di Borghese, Rome, Italy
1cy bird. Very much like 2395, but appears shaggy as if something has happened to it.
2398 (1 photos) 2016-10-25 Villa di Borghese, Rome, Italy
Adult type with stronger streaking on the head.
2399 (1 photos) 2016-10-25 Villa di Borghese, Rome, Italy
Adult. Growing P10 with black subterminal band.
2400 (1 photos) 2016-10-25 Villa di Borghese, Rome, Italy
Leg color on an adult bird.
2402 (1 photos) 2016-10-25 Villa di Borghese, Rome, Italy
1cy bird. Dark tail, whitish body and dark brown underwing.
2403 (7 photos) 2016-10-25 Villa di Borghese, Rome, Italy
At first I took this bird for an abnormal individual because of the strange eye position in the first photo, but now I think it is a normal ability the gulls have, to move the two eyes independently. Also here short legs. Rather than an age characteristic I believe that the black on the bill is a winter trait, expecting that the red gonys spot is stronger in summer too.
2404 (1 photos) 2016-10-25 Villa di Borghese, Rome, Italy
Adult.
2389 (3 photos) 2016-10-27 Forum Romano, Rome, Italy
Another adult type with remnants of dark on the bill.
2401 (1 photos) 2016-10-27 Forum Romano, Rome, Italy
Adult bird. It's alert and stretched to the limit. Still you get the feeling of rather short legs which is also a trait of this species.