Sunday 4 February 2018

Yellow-legged Herring Gull


First-winter Herring Gull with yellow legs and bill base - Exmouth Quay. Not sure what to make of this bird. The tertials look remarkably plain and not at all Herring Gull-like, presumably due to wear, but in flight it looked like a perfectly ordinary Herring Gull. I wondered if the yellow is due to some sort of staining, but I think the colouration is too even for that. Just a pigmentation anomaly?

6 comments:

  1. Hi. I popped to the quay around 3pm for an hour and came across the same bird. I have to admit the Gulls aren’t my strongest point but I too struggled with this one. Can’t add much to your thoughts except could it be a hybrid?

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  2. Hi Spencer - first-winters of all the potential large white-headed gull 'cross' species have pinkish legs so think this is unlikely. More than likely just a bare part aberration but who knows? All the best. Matt

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  3. Cheers mate. As said, Gulls aren’t my strongest area. It’s an odd variation.

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  4. What about argentatus? Looks like they can have yellow legs. This is probably worth a read http://www.gull-research.org/hg/HG4CY01.htm

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    1. Hi Spencer - adults can. Again v unlikely in younger age groups. Matt

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  5. No problem mate. Thanks for being patient with me as Gulls are hard work for me and just trying to figure this one out.

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