A large gull common on Pacific Coast.
§ Quick facts
§ Encyclopedia
The glaucous-winged gull is a large, white-headed gull. The genus name is from Latin Larus which appears to have referred to a gull or other large seabird. The specific glaucescens is Neo-Latin for "glaucous" from the Ancient Greek, glaukos, denoting the grey color of its wings.
Source: Wikipedia — Glaucous-winged gull Licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0
§ Identification
Field marks. Large gull with a gray back and gray (not black) wingtips that match the back, pink legs, a heavy yellow bill with a red spot, and a dark eye.
Similar species. Western Gull has a darker back and black wingtips; Glaucous Gull is paler with white wingtips. Many West Coast birds are hybrids.
Voice. A deep, hoarse laughing series and a low 'gah-gah-gah'.
§ Diet & behavior
Diet. Omnivorous: fish, invertebrates, scavenged food, eggs.
Behavior. A large Pacific Northwest gull of coasts and harbors; hybridizes extensively with Western and Herring gulls, making identification a challenge along the West Coast.
§ Range
Pacific Coast
§ Habitat
Coastal areas
§ Threats
Coastal habitat loss.
§ Conservation status
According to the IUCN Red List, the glaucous-winged gull is currently classified as Least Concern.
§ What helps
Support Pacific Coast conservation.
§ Further reading
- Wikipedia — Glaucous-winged gull
- www.allaboutbirds.org — authoritative profile of Larus glaucescens
- IUCN Red List — search for Larus glaucescens
- GBIF occurrence records
- Encyclopedia of Life — Larus glaucescens
§ Sources cited
- Cornell Lab of Ornithology — All About Birds
- National Audubon Society
- iNaturalist
- IUCN Red List
