Bird Guide

Glaucous Gull vs Iceland Gull

Glaucous Gull (Larus hyperboreus)

Glaucous Gull

Larus hyperboreus

Huge1.5 kgCoastal

This is a large and powerful gull, second-largest of all gull species and very pale in all plumage, with no black on either the wings or the tail. Adults are pale grey above, with a thick, yellow bill. Juveniles are very pale grey with a pink and black bill. This species is considerably larger, bulkier, and thicker-billed than the similar Iceland gull, and can sometimes equal the size of the great black-backed gull, the oft-titled largest gull species. In some areas, glaucous gulls are about the same weight as great black-backed gulls or even heavier, and their maximum weight is greater.

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Photo: Sowls, Art · Public domain
Iceland Gull (Larus glaucoides)

Iceland Gull

Larus glaucoides

Large693 gCoastal

The Iceland gull is a medium-sized gull, although relatively slender and light in weight. In length, it can measure from 50 to 64 cm (20 to 25 in), wingspan is from 115 to 150 cm (45 to 59 in), and weight is from 480 to 1,100 g (1.06 to 2.43 lb). Among standard measurements, the wing chord is 37.9 to 44.3 cm (14.9 to 17.4 in), the bill is 3.6 to 5.4 cm (1.4 to 2.1 in), and the tarsus is 4.9 to 6.7 cm (1.9 to 2.6 in). It is smaller and thinner-billed than the very large glaucous gull, and is usually smaller than the herring gull. It takes four years to reach maturity. Voice: The call is a "laughing" cry like the herring gull, but higher pitched.

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Photo: David McCorquodale · CC BY 4.0

Where you might meet both

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Photos and recordings are credited to their authors under the licence shown. Full profiles: Glaucous Gull and Iceland Gull.