Yellow-legged Gull

(Larus michahellis)

Category of conservation concern (IUCN, 2020) – Least Concern

Population size: 5 000 – 7 000 pairs

Distribution pattern

With dispersed distribution, more grouped in a linear shape along the Black Sea coast (where it breeds mainly in the coastal settlements) and to some extent along the Danube River. With inland single isolated breeding colonies, where it also keeps to the settlements, especially along the valleys of larger rivers or near dams. Nomadic non – breeding specimens remain during the summer in wetlands, most often close to existing nesting grounds.

Comparative distribution of the species compared to the first breeding birds atlas (Iankov, 2007): Breeding locality until 2007 | Breeding locality until 2007, confirmed after 2015 – | New breeding locality after 2015. – The breeding localities after 2015 are identified on a base of raw data from smartbirds.org.

Habitats

Breeds mainly in towns, villages, industrial zones, but also on steep rocky (sea) shores and islets, sea stacks and rarely on the dikes in the saltpans.

Trends in population changes for the period 2013-2020

Not analysed

Threats

Not analysed