Gulls, Terns

Glaucous Gull, Larus hyperboreus

Family Laridae (Gulls, Terns)

Size: 27"

Season: Winter

Habitat: Open ocean, coastal areas

After breeding in the Arctic, glaucous gulls are winter visitors to New England. They are large, stocky, heavy-set gulls with heavy but straight bills that lack a pronounced angle on the lower mandible. It takes four years to achieve adult plumage, but at all stages it is quite pale, has pinkish legs, and lacks dark patches on the primaries. Breeding adults are very pale gray above and have yellow eyes and a yellow bill with a red spot. Winter adults show faint smudging about the head and neck, are white overall with variable amounts of brown streaking, and have a pale-pinkish, black-tipped bill. The juvenile (top) and winter adult (bottom) are illustrated.