Yellow-legged Gull on British list (1 Viewer)

[sphinx79]

Just a devil's advocate question from someone who doesn't understand genetics, let alone the LWHG complex: Is the mtDNA of omissus distinguishable from argentatus? Is there any chance that omissus could be a good (sub)species that is heading for extinction because of inability to compete with argentatus?

Jason, I'm not sure what the science is - or indeed how much real science there is on this - but I haven't heard any suggestion of there being genetic differences between omissus and argentatus. Omissus is regarded in Sweden, at any rate, as being merely a variant of argentatus - ie omissus birds are argentatus in all respects. It's just that they have yellow legs.

Rgds

Greg

 

[Edward woodwood]

is that Herrings with yellow legs from anywhere Greg?

is anyone aware of any groups of these gulls people might term 'omissus' breeding where they were supposed to have occured in the past?

Tim

 

[sphinx79]

is that Herrings with yellow legs from anywhere Greg?

Good question Tim. Would an argenteus with yellow legs be an omissus? Interesting thought, but probably not. The term omissus apparently was first coined to describe breeding Herring Gulls in western Russia and the NE Baltic region that had yellow legs. Apparently these disappeared in the 1950s from many breeding areas when pink-legged Herring Gulls moved in and interbred with them (at least that's what it says in the new Gulls Guide). But you still see plenty of argentatus Herring Gulls in the Baltic Sea area with yellow legs and these are widely referred to as omissus up here. Some of these are presumably "original" omissus types from the NE Baltic. Equally, some are probably just western argentatus with yellow legs. Blimey, this is getting complicated..... :h?:

Greg