Glaucous Gull

The Glaucous Gull is one of the largest gulls in the world, an imposing, bulky Arctic species instantly recognizable by its very pale plumage. Unlike almost all other large gulls, adults show no black at all in the wingtips; instead the primaries are the same pale gray as the rest of the mantle, or nearly white, giving the bird a strikingly "white-winged" appearance in flight.

Adults have a thick yellow bill with a bold red spot near the tip, pink legs, and a pale eye. Juvenile and immature birds are pale creamy-buff overall, sometimes appearing almost entirely white, and take about four years to mature.

A formidable and opportunistic Arctic predator, the Glaucous Gull will readily take the eggs and chicks of other seabirds, scavenge carcasses of seals and whales, and follow fishing vessels in search of discards.

Key field marks

• Very large size, among the biggest gulls
• No black in the wingtips; primaries pale gray to nearly white
• Thick yellow bill with a red gonydeal spot
• Pink legs
• Pale, cream-colored immature plumage

Similar species

• Iceland Gull: smaller and more delicate, with a smaller bill and rounder head, though it shares the white wingtips.
• Glaucous-winged Gull: wingtips are only slightly darker gray than the mantle, not pure white, and the species is restricted to the Pacific, not circumpolar Arctic.
• Herring Gull: shows obvious black wingtips, unlike Glaucous Gull.

Habitat

Breeds on Arctic coastal cliffs, tundra, and islands circumpolar around the high Arctic. Winters along northern temperate coasts, harbors, and near fishing operations, sometimes venturing well south of the breeding range during irruption years.

Range and migration

Breeds across the circumpolar Arctic including northern Alaska, Canada, Greenland, and Eurasia; winters along the coasts of the northern Atlantic and Pacific, occasionally reaching farther south along the Great Lakes and mid-latitude coastlines in winter.

Behavior

A dominant and aggressive presence at seabird colonies and fishing harbors, Glaucous Gulls are skilled predators, taking eggs, chicks, and even adult birds of smaller species, in addition to scavenging.

Voice

Calls resemble those of other large gulls: deep, resonant "kyow" notes and a long call given with the head thrown back.

Feeding

An opportunistic predator and scavenger feeding on fish, marine invertebrates, carrion (including seal and whale carcasses), and the eggs and chicks of other seabirds.

Nesting and breeding

Nests as solitary pairs or in loose colonies on Arctic cliffs and rocky coastlines, building a scrape lined with vegetation. Clutches typically contain two to three eggs, incubated by both parents.