North American field guide
Iceland Gull
Larus glaucoides
Identification
Field notes
58-66 cm (23-26") Uncommon along northeastern Atlantic coast, rare on Great Lakes. A pale crow-sized gull. White head, underparts and tail; pale gray mantle with whitish or pure white primaries - without the black wing tips; usually yellow but sometimes brown eyes; short, slender, yellow bill with red spot; flesh-colored legs. Folded wings extend beyond the tail. Glaucous Gull is similar but is larger with a stouter bill.
Song: croaks and screams.
Details in the field
Photo gallery
Watch and learn
Videos
Iceland Gull off Cape Hatteras, NC
Credit: Scott WintonIceland Gull - 19.2.2012
Credit: LoungeDwellersIceland Gull Essex 2nd February 2012.m2ts
Credit: Steve ArlowIceland Hamilton Dock
Credit: LoungeDwellersBird 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.
Iceland Gull
2 rulesRule 1 10 criteria · confidence 3
- What colour were the LEGS or FEET ?
- Orange, buff (orange-yellow), or tan · Red, or pink · 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) · Unknown
- What SHAPE was the BILL ?
- Straight and thick · Hooked · Unknown
- What LENGTH was the BILL ?
- Short · Medium · 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
Rule 2 10 criteria · confidence 1
- What colour were the LEGS or FEET ?
- Orange, buff (orange-yellow), or tan · Red, or pink · 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) · Unknown
- What SHAPE was the BILL ?
- Straight and thick · Hooked · Unknown
- What LENGTH was the BILL ?
- Short · Medium · 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