Are we looking at YLG?

[michal rycak]

Watching some old photos from breeding season i have found some photos of gull which previously i distinguished as YLG.
Right now i'm a bit cofunsed is it really it? Especially these elongated body and large mirror p10 makes some doubts. What about the age class - 4cy?

All the best,
Michal

[lou bertalan]

hi michal,

it's a YLG allright, most probably a 4cy female type with a largish p10 mirror. structure, esp. head shape and size are absolutely in line with michahellis. quite some michahellis (especially eastern ones) can have such large p10 mirrors in their 3rd cycle, some even a small p9 mirror. i've attached 2 examples from bucharest, pics cristian mihai.
however, in this age class often it isn't safe to age birds as definite 4cy since retarded 5cy (4th cycles) can look identically (especially with dark centers of primary coverts).
similarly to yours both example birds from bucharest have rests of dark tertial centers, some black in rectrices and even in secondaries. note in both the small p9 mirror.

lou

[michal rycak]

Thank you Lou!