Yellow-legged Gull Bird Facts (Larus michahellis)

Visual Identification

Appearance

The Yellow-legged Gull is a large, robust seabird with a distinctive white head and body, contrasting with its grey back and wings. Its yellow legs and feet are a key identifying feature, along with its strong, yellow bill marked with a red spot near the tip.

Adults display a white head in summer, while winter plumage shows faint grey streaking, and legs may become slightly darker. Both sexes are similar in size and plumage, although side-by-side, it may be possible to distinguish between sexes as the female’s bill is slightly narrower and shorter.

Juveniles have mottled brown plumage, gradually transitioning to adult colouration over four years.

Size

Length

52cm to 68cm

Wingspan

120cm to 155cm

Weight

550g to 1.6kg

Colours

Males and females have similar plumage

Primary Colour

White Grey

Secondary Colour

Black

Beak Colour

Yellow Red

Leg Colour

Yellow

Habitat and Distribution

Habitats

Woodland

The Yellow-legged Gull is not typically found in Woodland habitats.

Garden

The Yellow-legged Gull is not typically found in Garden habitats.

Wetland

The Yellow-legged Gull is not typically found in Wetland habitats.

Coastal

The Yellow-legged Gull can be found in Coastal habitats.

Urban

The Yellow-legged Gull can be found in Urban habitats.

Farmland

The Yellow-legged Gull is not typically found in Farmland habitats.

Grassland

The Yellow-legged Gull is not typically found in Grassland habitats.

Desert

The Yellow-legged Gull is not typically found in Desert habitats.

Tundra

The Yellow-legged Gull is not typically found in Tundra habitats.

Rainforest

The Yellow-legged Gull is not typically found in Rainforest habitats.

Mountain

The Yellow-legged Gull is not typically found in Mountain habitats.

Savanna

The Yellow-legged Gull is not typically found in Savanna habitats.

Distribution

Yellow-legged Gulls primarily inhabit coastal areas around the Mediterranean Sea, extending to the Atlantic coasts of France, Spain, and Portugal. They are also found along the Black Sea and parts of the Middle East.

In recent years, their range has expanded northward, with increasing numbers observed in the UK, particularly during post-breeding dispersal and winter months. They prefer rocky coastlines, islands, and urban coastal areas for breeding.

Elevation Range

Sea level to 2,000 meters

Climate zones

Mediterranean, Temperate

Distribution Map

This map gives you a rough idea of where you might spot a Yellow-legged Gull. The coloured areas show countries where these birds have been seen.

A few things to keep in mind:

Birds might not be everywhere in the coloured areas, for example, they may be present around the coast of that country
Where birds live can change with seasons and available food
This map is quite simple - it doesn't show exact locations

We're working on making our maps even better! Soon, we hope to show you:

More detailed maps for bigger countries, including state and region
How birds move around during different seasons

Resident

Breeding

Non-breeding

Vagrant

Distribution by Region

Species that can be found in the area throughout the year

Albania Algeria Austria Belarus Belgium Bosnia and Herzegovina Bulgaria Croatia Cyprus Czech Republic Egypt France Germany Gibraltar Greece Hungary Israel Italy Jordan Lebanon Malta Monaco Montenegro Morocco Netherlands Poland Portugal Serbia Slovakia Slovenia Spain Switzerland Syria The United Kingdom Tunisia Turkey

Species that are present in the area during their breeding season

Macedonia

Species that are present in the area outside their breeding season

Denmark Georgia Libya Mauritania Palestine Saudi Arabia Western Sahara

Species that appear infrequently (rare) and unpredictably outside their normal range

Bahrain Cape Verde Finland Gambia Ireland Liechtenstein Nigeria Senegal Sweden

Behaviour and Ecology

Bird Attributes

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Bird Attributes Explained

Our bird attributes system rates various aspects of a bird's capabilities on a scale of 0-100, based on data from field observations, scientific studies, and expert knowledge.

Attribute Categories:

Agility: Manoeuvrability, speed, and grace in flight or movement.
Strength: Physical power, often correlating with size and hunting abilities.
Adaptability: Ability to thrive in various environments or changing conditions.
Aggressiveness: Territorial behaviour and assertiveness, particularly during breeding seasons.
Endurance: Stamina, often seen in migration patterns or foraging behaviours.

Understanding the Ratings:

0-20: Very Low
21-40: Low
41-60: Average
61-80: High
81-100: Very High

Remember, these attributes are relative to other bird species and don't necessarily indicate superiority.

Hover over the icon next to each attribute for more information.

Tap the icon next to each attribute for more information.

Agility 85

Agility

Reflects the bird's manoeuvrability, speed, and grace in flight or movement.

Yellow-legged Gulls demonstrate high agility in flight, adeptly manoeuvring in coastal winds and urban environments. Their ability to snatch fish from the water's surface and navigate complex urban landscapes showcases their nimble nature.

Strength 70

Strength

Indicates the bird's physical power, often correlating with size and hunting abilities.

As large seabirds, Yellow-legged Gulls possess considerable strength, evident in their ability to carry sizeable prey and defend territories. Their robust build allows them to withstand harsh coastal conditions and engage in physical confrontations with rivals.

Adaptability 90

Adaptability

Represents the bird's ability to thrive in various environments or changing conditions.

These gulls exhibit remarkable adaptability, thriving in diverse habitats from natural coastlines to urban areas. Their opportunistic feeding behaviour, including scavenging human food waste and using bread as bait, demonstrates high adaptability to changing environments.

Aggressiveness 80

Aggressiveness

Measures the bird's territorial behaviour and assertiveness, particularly during breeding seasons.

Yellow-legged Gulls are known for their aggressive territorial defence, particularly during breeding season. They fiercely protect nesting sites and display confrontational behaviour towards potential threats, including other bird species and even humans.

Endurance 75

Endurance

Reflects the bird's stamina, often seen in migration patterns or foraging behaviours.

With a lifespan of up to 20 years in the wild and the ability to undertake long flights during post-breeding dispersal, Yellow-legged Gulls show good endurance. Their capacity to thrive in various climates and altitudes, from sea level to 2,000 metres, further supports their endurance rating.

Diet

Yellow-legged Gulls have a varied diet, including fish, marine invertebrates, and carrion. They are also known to prey on eggs and chicks of other seabirds. In urban areas, they often scavenge human food waste, displaying their adaptability to different food sources.

They hunt for fish by making shallow dives beneath the ocean surface but are equally at home mobbing other birds for their prey or picking through landfill sites looking for anything edible.

Behaviour

Yellow-legged Gulls are opportunistic feeders, often seen following fishing boats or foraging in urban areas. They are highly adaptable, displaying complex social behaviours within large colonies.

These gulls are known for their aggressive territorial defence during the breeding season, fiercely protecting their nesting sites.

Vocalisation

The Yellow-legged Gull's call is a loud, harsh 'kyow' or 'ah-ah-ah', similar to other large gulls. During courtship, they produce a variety of softer mewing and chuckling sounds.

Their alarm call is a sharp, repetitive 'kek-kek-kek', used to warn of potential threats to the colony.

Nesting & Breeding

Breeding typically occurs from April to July, with pairs forming strong, often long-term bonds. Yellow-legged Gulls are colonial nesters, preferring rocky outcrops or flat rooftops in urban coastal areas.

Nests are constructed from vegetation, feathers, and debris, usually on the ground or on building ledges. Females lay 2-3 eggs, which are olive brown with dark splotches.

Both parents incubate the eggs for about 28 days. Chicks fledge after 35-40 days but may remain dependent on their parents for several more weeks.

Conservation and Status

Global Conservation Status

Least Concern ^[1]

While the Yellow-legged Gull is listed as Least Concern due to its large range and increasing population, it faces localised threats. These include habitat loss in coastal areas, pollution, and competition with other gull species.

Conservation efforts focus on protecting breeding sites and managing urban populations.

Population Data

Global Population Estimate

819,000 - 1,070,000 mature individuals (European population) ^[2]

Global Population Trend

^[3]

Trend data may be uncertain or fluctuating

Birdwatching Tips

Look for Yellow-legged Gulls in coastal areas, particularly around harbours and beaches
Observe their distinctive yellow legs to differentiate them from similar gull species
Listen for their loud, harsh 'kyow' call, especially during breeding season
In the UK, check large gull flocks carefully, as Yellow-legged Gulls are less common but increasing in numbers

Additional Information

Quick Facts

Other names:

Mediterranean Gull

Family:

Laridae

Average Lifespan

10 years

Max Lifespan

19.2 years ^[4]

Predators

Main predators include large raptors such as White-tailed Eagles and Peregrine Falcons. Terrestrial predators like foxes and rats may prey on eggs and chicks.

Did You Know?

Yellow-legged Gulls can drink both fresh and salt water, thanks to special glands that remove excess salt.
They have been observed using bread as bait to catch fish, showing problem-solving abilities.
These gulls can live up to 20 years in the wild.
Until fairly recently, Yellow-legged gulls were considered a subspecies of the Caspian gull or the Herring gull. In 2007, the British Ornithologists’ Union first listed it as a distinct species with key differences in appearance and distribution range from similar-looking gulls.

References

1 2
website: BirdLife International. 2019. Larus michahellis. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2019: e.T62030970A154522526.
View source
3
report, 2015: Wetlands International
4
website, 2010: Fransson et al., EURING list of longevity records for European birds
View source