Glaucous-winged gull
Larus glaucescens
Identification Tips:
- Large gull
- Very large bill with distinct gonydeal angle
- Flat forehead and large bill give "mean" appearance
Adult alternate:
- Bright yellow bill with red spot at gonys
- Pink legs
- Dark eyes
- White head, neck, breast and belly
- Pale gray mantle
- White tertial crescent
- Pale gray primaries (do not contrast with back) have white tips
- White tail
Adult basic:
- Like adult alternate but blurry brown streaking and spotting on head and nape
Juvenile/First-year:
- Black bill
- Wholly pale brown body plumage
- Pale brown primaries do not contrast with body plumage
- Pale brown tail does not contrast with back
- Black legs quickly become pink
Second-year:
- Black bill with pink base
- Pale brown head, neck, upper breast, belly, primaries and tail
- Pale gray back
Third-year:
- Like adult basic, but often lacks adult bill pattern, wing pattern, and often
retains a partial tail band
Similar Species:
Adults of all other species have primaries that contrast with the back
color. Glaucous-winged is one of the largest and "meanest-looking" gulls
and can often be distinguished just by shape. Young birds also show no contrast
between the body and primaries. First-winter plumage is very similar to Thayer'
Gull, which has slightly darker primaries and secondaries and a smaller bill
(with shallower gonydeal angle), rounder head and smaller size.
Glaucous-winged and Western gulls hydridize extensively so beware of
intermediate-plumaged hybrids.