A Yellow-legged Gull (Larus Michahellis) perching on top of a bricola near the Rialto Bridge looking for an easy meal.

Identification:
52–58 cm (20½-22¾ in)
Adult: Grey back, Black wing tips with few white spots, Red spot on the bill, Red eye-ring.

First-year: Dark bill and eyes, Pinkish-grey legs, Blackish flight feathers, Black band on the tail.

Second winter: Almost adult plumage, Retaining feather patterning on the wing coverts, Black bill tips, Dark eyes, Pale yellow legs.

Similar Species: Caspian (Larus Cachinnans)

Variation: Western birds (subspecies Atlantis) has a darker mantle than more easterly birds.

Distribution: Europe and North Africa.

Taxonomy: Caspian Gull is included by some authorities in Yellow-legged Gull. The scientific name for the species would then be Larus m. Cachinnans.

Subspecies: There are 2 subspecies: Subspecies of the Yellow-legged Gull:
Larus m. Michahellis - Breeds in the Mediterranean.
Larus m. Atlantis - Breeds on Atlantic shores adjacent to the Mediterranean.

Habitat: Fields and coasts.

Behaviour
Diet: They are scavengers and also rob other birds of their catches. Their varied diet consists of fish, invertebrates, mammals, rodents, birds eggs and chicks. Also refuse and offal.

Breeding: They breed in colonies. The nest is a mound of vegetation built on the ground or on cliff ledges. The clutch consists of 3 eggs which are incubated for 27-31 days; the young fledge after 35-40 days.

Tags: Venice Italy Grand canal Rialto Rialto bridge Scavenger Wildlife and nature Bricola Larus michahellis YELLOW-LEGGED GULL Wooden Stakes

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