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The Yellow Legged Gull (Larus michahellis) is of the family Laridae which is in the genus Larus. Up until recently it was considered as a race of Herring Gull (Larus argentatus) but has now been given full species status. Post breeding populations disperse north and east. From July onward it occurs in good numbers in southern Britain but is an uncommon and scarce species in Ireland. The above record may be the same individual that was present at this location during August 2021.
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There are two subspecies recognised:
- Larus michahellis michahellis - breeds in parts of western and southern Europe, as well as the Mediterranean Basin.
- Larus michahellis atlantis - known as Atlantic Gull, breeds on the Atlantic coasts of France, Iberia, Morocco, Canary Islands, Madeira as well as a dark headed form that occurs on the Azores.
Patrick J. O'Keeffe / Raw Birds
Yellow Legged Gull (Larus michahellis) distribution map
Resident Breeding Non breeding-winter
Cephas, CC BY-SA 4.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0>, via Wikimedia Commons