General

Glaucous Gull: Large, white gull with pale gray back. Eyes are yellow. Bill is yellow with red spot on lower mandible. Wings are white-edged and white tipped. Legs and feet are pink. Sexes are similar. Winter adult has brown wash on head and neck.

Range and Habitat

Glaucous Gull: Breeds in Alaska and northern Canada. Spends winters along the coast south to California (rarely) and Virginia; rarely found in the Great Lakes and the Gulf coast. Preferred habitats include shores of lakes, rivers, and coast, as well as refuse dumps and sewage outflows.

Breeding and Nesting

Glaucous Gull: Two to three light brown or olive eggs with dark brown blotches are laid in a cliff nest lined with moss and grass. Incubation ranges from 27 to 28 days and is carried out by both parents.

Foraging and Feeding

Glaucous Gull: Feeds mostly on eggs and young of other birds during summer; also eats fish, invertebrates, refuse, insects, and berries. Forages by wading, plunge diving, and stealing food from other seabirds.

Vocalization

Glaucous Gull: Usually silent, but while flying sometimes makes a prattling-like quack; also has various shrieking cries.

Similar Species

Glaucous Gull: Glaucous-winged Gull is smaller, has gray marks on primaries, and a slight red ring around dark eyes. Iceland Gull is smaller and has pale gray primaries with translucent white tips.