William69002
New member
Hello everyone,
I am facing a problem that many birders must know: the identification of non-adult gulls.
I made this observation on 19/12/22 in France on the Rhône river in Lyon (inland far from the coast)!
It is clearly a 3rd year gull (in my opinion), and since we are in Lyon it should be a Larus michahellis as the other species are rare (or accidental).
However two/three details bother me: The colour of the legs, the proportion of black on the beak and the almost absent red on the beak.
And the stripes are for me important for a Larus michahellis.
To me these characteristics are more consistent with a argentatus (or maybe another but big doubt given the location).
The photo is from December, so I think it's also late in its moult.
If someone is more specialized in Larids, to explain me this identification.
I look forward to hearing from you.
I am facing a problem that many birders must know: the identification of non-adult gulls.
I made this observation on 19/12/22 in France on the Rhône river in Lyon (inland far from the coast)!
It is clearly a 3rd year gull (in my opinion), and since we are in Lyon it should be a Larus michahellis as the other species are rare (or accidental).
However two/three details bother me: The colour of the legs, the proportion of black on the beak and the almost absent red on the beak.
And the stripes are for me important for a Larus michahellis.
To me these characteristics are more consistent with a argentatus (or maybe another but big doubt given the location).
The photo is from December, so I think it's also late in its moult.
If someone is more specialized in Larids, to explain me this identification.
I look forward to hearing from you.