Yellow-legged Gull
Yellow-legged Gull
Larus michahellis
At a Glance
Long considered just a yellow-legged race of the Herring Gull, this form was recently recognized as a full species. Native to southern Europe, it has strayed very rarely to eastern North America.
All bird guide text and rangemaps adapted from Lives of North American Birds by Kenn Kaufman© 1996, used by permission of Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
Category
Gull-like Birds, Gulls and Terns
IUCN Status
Least Concern
Habitat
Coasts and Shorelines, Landfills and Dumps, Saltwater Wetlands
Region
Eastern Canada, Mid Atlantic
Behavior
Swimming
Range & Identification
Description
25" (64 cm). Very rare visitor to northeast from Europe. Like Herring Gull but upperparts barely darker gray, head with less dark streaking in winter, legs yellow.
Size
About the size of a Mallard or Herring Gull
Color
Black, Brown, Gray, White, Yellow
Wing Shape
Long, Pointed, Tapered
Tail Shape
Rounded, Short, Square-tipped
Songs and Calls
A deep, strident kyow.
Call Pattern
Falling, Flat
Call Type
Raucous, Scream
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