YELLOW-LEGGED GULL Larus michahellis

Among the first to attract the attention of taxonomists, and now readily picked out in gull flocks. Not only the leg colour but a darker mantle distinguishes older birds,less subtle features allow identification especially of juveniles and first and second year birds, the birds themselves seem to have no problems since pure pairs are becoming increasingly common breeders especially in the south and east of England. Vagrant atlantis, the North Atlantic race, are also increasingly reported. The right hand bird may be this race, taken on Madeira, but most are intergrades, the only pure birds seem to be on Cape Verde.

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