Yellow-legged gull / Mittelmeermöwe (Larus michahellis)

Mittelmeermöwe, Tenero. 2024-09-04 18:20:23 Locarno

Observations

First documented observation: 2021-03-07 in Rapperswil. Most recent observation: 2025-04-23 in Locarno.

Description

Classification: Genus Larus (Larus); Subfamily Larinae (Larinae); Family Gulls (Laridae)
General:The yellow-legged gull is a large gull found in Europe, the Middle East and North Africa, which has only recently achieved wide recognition as a distinct species. It was formerly treated as a subspecies of either the Caspian gull L. cachinnans, or more broadly as a subspecies of the herring gull L. argentatus. The genus name is from Latin Larus which appears to have referred to a gull or other large seabird, and the species name honours the German zoologist Karl Michahelles.^[2] [more]
Vocalization:Voice more nasal than Herring Gull, but ID by sound difficult. [Link]

Seasonal behavior

Year-round bird

Other Details

Physical details

Physical details: length=59-67 cm, wingspan=140-158 cm, weight=750-1500 g
not sexually dimporphic.
No breeding plumage Identifying characteristics: general: head = gray (sprinkled), beak = yellow (yellow orange with a red tip esp. on the lower half), legs = yellow (yellow orange), wings = gray, tail = black (with white stripes)
Habitats: River and lake