Rarity Status
Currently this species is not classified as a rarity in this country OR information has not been updated.
Population
Estimated population is unknown (2010).
Status LC
Oil pollution, longline fishing, habitat destruction and disturbance, and culling in order to protect other endangered species, are the main threats.
For more information see BirdLife International Species Factsheet.
Habits
In small to large groups.
Food
Fish, invertebrates, reptiles, small mammals, refuse, offal, and bird eggs and chicks.
Voice
Raucous, 'aahhoo' calls and deep chuckling notes.
Yellow-legged Gull (Larus) [XC541898]
by Charlie Bodin from Montpellier, H\u00e9rault, Occitanie, France (call)
Yellow-legged Gull (Larus) [XC750797]
by Branislav Oblu\u010dar from E\u011firdir, E\u011firdir, Isparta, Turkey (?)
Nest
Composed of vegetation, feathers, debris and old carcasses, usually close to or under bushes, or on rocky and sandy islands, beaches, spits, sea cliffs, grassy or shrubby river islands, and occasionally on high ground hundreds of metres from water. In colonies often with other species.
Eggs (Guide)
2 - 4; olive to brown with darker spots and blotches; oval. Incubation: 28 - 30 days; by both sexes.
Young
Fledge in 2 - 3 days, but remain with territory.
Subspecies
Larus cachinnans (Sibley and Monroe 1990, 1993) has been split into Caspian Gull (Larus cachinnans) and Yellow-legged Gull (Larus michahellis); Armenian Gull (Larus armenicus) (Sibley and Monroe 1990, 1993; AERC TAC) has been lumped into Yellow-legged Gull (Larus michahellis). These changes to the BirdLife checklist follow examination by the BirdLife Taxonomic Working Group (BTWG) of a recent review of large white-headed gulls in the Holarctic by Collinson et al. (2008) and associated literature referred to therein. The following species level treatment, shown with subspecific placements, has been adopted by the BTWG: Lesser Black-backed Gull (Larus fuscus) (with intermedius, graellsii, heuglini, taimyrensis and barabensis); European Herring Gull (Larus argentatus) (with argenteus, smithsonianus, vegae and mongolicus); Yellow-legged Gull (Larus michahellis) (with atlantis and armenicus) and Caspian Gull (Larus cachinnans).
All subspecies listed below have often been treated under European Herring Gull (Larus argentatus).
The form ponticus of the Caspian Sea is a synonym of nominate cachinnans.
The following 5 subspecies are recognised:
atlantis Dwight, 1922 - Azores to Madeira and Canary Is. Considered by some authors to be a distinct species, Atlantic Yellow-legged Gull (Larus atlantis).
michahellis J.F.Naumann, 1840 - Western and southern Europe and north-western Africa east through Mediterranean. Considered by some authors to be a distinct species, Yellow-legged Gull (Larus michahellis). Considered by some authors to be a subspecies of Caspian Gull (Larus cachinnans).
cachinnans Pallas, 1811 - Black Sea to Caspian Sea and eastern Kazakhstan. Winters south to south-western Asia, Middle East and north-eastern Africa. Considered by some authors to be a distinct species, Caspian Gull (Larus cachinnans).
barabensis Johansen, 1960 - Central Asian steppes. Winters mostly in south-western Asia. Considered by some authors to be a distinct species, Baraba Gull (Larus barabensis).
mongolicus Sushkin, 1925 - South-eastern Altai and L Baikal to Mongolia. Winters mostly in southern Asia. Considered by some authors to be a distinct species, Mongolian Gull (Larus mongolicus).
The Reader's Digest Book of British Birds 1980, 3rd Edition, Drive Publications Ltd ISBN 0 340 25308 8
Birds in Colour Campbell, B., 1960, Penguin Books Ltd
The Pocket Guide to Nest and Eggs Fitter, R.S.R., 1954, Collins
RSPB Handbook of British Birds Holden, P., Cleeves, T., 2002, A & C Black ISBN 0 7136 5713 8
Birds of Britain and Europe Sterry, P., et al., 2001, AA Publishing ISBN 0 7495 3068 5
The Popular Handbook of British Birds Hollom, P.A.D., 1973, H.F. & G. Witherby Ltd ISBN 0 85493 002 7
BirdLife International Species Factsheet