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Project Noah Nature School
Larus michahellis
I took this pics in Costa da Caparica in Portugal. There were several types of plumage. You can see in my other spotings other types. I think this species is Commun Gull (Larus canus), as it has a white spot on the tip of the wings.
Portugal is well out of range for Common Gull, especially in summer when the majority are up in Scandinavia or Russia. The large red spot on the lower mandible is not a feature of Common Gulls either. The first 3 are Yellow-legged Gulls, the similar Herring Gulls having pink legs and feet and the Greater Black-backed Gull having much darker wings. The Gulls in the last picture are too small to be positive about ID. The variable plumages are juveniles and immatures as it takes 3-5 years for Gulls to attain their adult plumages and they generally moult twice a year, each time having a different plumage.
Spotted on Jul 1, 2013
Submitted on Jul 1, 2013
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