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The Yellow-legged Gull, Larus cachinnans, is a large gull.

The taxonomy of the Herring Gull/ Lesser Black-backed Gull complex is very complicated. This group has a ring distribution around the northern hemisphere. Differences between adjacent forms in this ring are fairly small, but by the time the circuit is completed, the end members, Herring Gull and Lesser Black-backed Gull, are clearly different species. However, different authorities recognise up to eight species in this complex.

It is has become fairly common to consider the Yellow-legged Gull as a full species, but there are still some problems. For example, the BOU in Great Britain places the Mediterranean form michahellis and the eastern cachinnans (Caspian Gull) in this species. However, recent DNA research has shown that Caspian Gull is basal to the complex, and cannot be in the same grouping as the other form.

Michahellis (named for the German zoologist Karl MichahellesKarl Michahelles ( 1807- 1834) was a German zoologist and physician originally from Bavaria. Michahelles travelled extensively in Dalmatia and Croatia, becoming well known for his study of the birds of the area. He died aged only 27 in Greece, where he we) breeds in the Mediterranean, and there is a similar form atlantis on the AtlanticFor other uses, see Atlantic (disambiguation The Atlantic Ocean is Earth's second-largest ocean, covering approximately one-fifth of its surface. The ocean's name, derived from Greek mythology, means the " Sea of Atlas". This ocean occupies an elongated, islands. These two forms are often considered as a good species, Larus michahellis, retaining the name "Yellow-legged Gull".

The Caspian Gull occurs around the BlackNASA MODIS The Black Sea (also known as the Euxine Sea is an inland sea between southeastern Europe and Asia Minor. It is connected to the Mediterranean Sea by the Bosporus and the Sea of Marmara, and to the Sea of Azov by the Strait of Kerch. There is a and Caspian SeaThe Caspian Sea is a landlocked sea in Asia. It is bordered by Russia ( Dagestan, Kalmykia, Astrakhan Oblast), Republic of Azerbaijan, Iran ( Guilan, Mazandaran and Golestan provinces), Turkmenistan, and Kazakhstan, with the central Asian steppes to the ns east to ChinaThis article is on the geographic and cultural entity. For other meanings, see China (disambiguation). China ( Traditional Chinese: , Simplified Chinese: , Hanyu Pinyin: Zhongguo, Wade-Giles: Chung-kuo) is a country in continental East Asia with some oute. Both forms wanderLong-distance land bird migration Many species of land birds migrate very long distances, the most common pattern being for birds to breed in the temperate or arctic northern hemisphere and winter in warmer regions, often in the tropics or the southern he widely in winter, and even Caspian Gull is regular in western EuropeFor the band of the same name, see Europe (band . Europe is a continent forming the westermost part of the Eurasian supercontinent. Europe is bounded to the north by the Arctic Ocean, to the west by the Atlantic Ocean, to the south by the Mediterranean Se at that time of year.

These birds are similar to Herring Gulls but have yellow legs. Western adults have a grey back, slightly darker than Herring Gull. They are much whiter-headed in autumn, and have more extensively black wing tips. They have a red spot on the bill like Herring Gull.

The Caspian Gull has back and wings more like the Herring Gull, but is a slimmer, more elegant bird with a more slender head. It is also white-headed in autumn.

These are omnivores like most Larus gulls, and they will scavenge on rubbish tips and elsewhere, as well as seeking suitable small prey in fields or on the coast, or robbing ploverPluvialis Charadrius Thinornis Elseyornis Peltohyas Anarhynchus Phegornis Oreopholus Plovers are a widely distributed group of wading birds belonging to the subfamily Charadriinae . There are about 40 species in the subfamily, most of them called plover os or lapwings of their catches.

Eggs, usually three, are laid on the ground or cliff ledges in colonies, and are defended vigorously by this large gull. The call is a loud laugh.