Glaucous Gull

Larus hyperboreus

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Identification

Field notes

66-81 cm (26-32") Uncommon south of Canada. Along both coasts and Great Lakes in winter. Large, pale, goose-sized arctic gull. White head, underparts and tail; pale gray mantle with whitish or pure white primaries - without the black wing tips; yellow eyes; large yellow bill with red spot; flesh-colored legs. Folded wings extend just beyond the tail. Similar Iceland Gull is smaller with a slender, shorter bill and more rounded head.

Song: croaks and screams.

Details in the field

Photo gallery

4 photos

Credit: Brian Henderson

Credit: Bill Bouton

Credit: Paul Roberts

Credit: Bob Devlin

Watch and learn

Videos

4 videos

Glaucous Gull - Larus hyberboreus

Credit: Ron Jackson

Glaucous Gull

Credit: ScottCatskill

Glaucous Gulls at Prince Leopold Island

Credit: kNomeiNternational

2ndw Glaucous Gull, Ardglass, Co. Down - 3rd February 2012

Credit: Tristan Reid

Bird Advisor Identification rules 1 variant 2 rules

These are the observation paths the Bird Advisor can use to identify this species. Each rule is an alternative match.

Glaucous Gull

2 rules

Rule 1 12 criteria confidence 3

What colour were the LEGS or FEET ?: Orange, buff (orange-yellow), or tan · Red, or pink · Unknown
What colour were the WING TIPS ?: White or light gray · Unknown
What SHAPE was the TAIL ?: Square or slightly notched at the end · Rounded at the end · Unknown
What colour was the BACK ?: White, or pale (grayish-white) · Gray, or blue-gray · Unknown
What colour was the BREAST ?: White, or pale (grayish-white) · Gray, or blue-gray · Unknown
What SHAPE was the BILL ?: Straight and thick · Hooked · Unknown
What LENGTH was the BILL ?: Short · Medium · Unknown
What colour were the EYES ?: White or light gray · Yellow or olive · Unknown
What colour was the TOP of HEAD ?: White, or pale (grayish-white) · Unknown
How BIG was the bird ?: Crow-sized · Goose-sized
What TYPE of bird was seen ?: Gull-like, or a Seabird
WHERE was the bird seen ?: Northeastern Canada or United States · Northwestern Canada or United States

result:525-glaucous-gull:1:1 Source: 525 Glaucous Gull, row 1

Rule 2 12 criteria confidence 1

What colour were the LEGS or FEET ?: Orange, buff (orange-yellow), or tan · Red, or pink · Unknown
What colour were the WING TIPS ?: White or light gray · Unknown
What SHAPE was the TAIL ?: Square or slightly notched at the end · Rounded at the end · Unknown
What colour was the BACK ?: White, or pale (grayish-white) · Gray, or blue-gray · Unknown
What colour was the BREAST ?: White, or pale (grayish-white) · Gray, or blue-gray · Unknown
What SHAPE was the BILL ?: Straight and thick · Hooked · Unknown
What LENGTH was the BILL ?: Short · Medium · Unknown
What colour were the EYES ?: White or light gray · Yellow or olive · Unknown
What colour was the TOP of HEAD ?: White, or pale (grayish-white) · Unknown
How BIG was the bird ?: Crow-sized · Goose-sized
What TYPE of bird was seen ?: Gull-like, or a Seabird
WHERE was the bird seen ?: Southeastern United States · Southwestern United States

result:525-glaucous-gull:2:1 Source: 525 Glaucous Gull, row 2