About the Glaucous Gull
The glaucous gull is a large gull, the second-largest gull in the world. The genus name is from Latin larus, which appears to have referred to a gull or other large seabird. The specific name hyperboreus is Latin for "northern" from the Ancient Greek Huperboreoi people from the far north "Glaucous" is from Latin glaucus and denotes the grey colour of the gull. An older English name for this species is burgomaster.
Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
ID tip
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.
Text from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
Where it lives
Recorded as a rare visitor in Mexico, Taiwan, Morocco, Switzerland, Italy, Azerbaijan, North Korea, Mongolia, Guernsey, Latvia, Romania.
When to see it
Peak activity in January · a variable species across most of its range
Easily confused with
Heermann's GullLarus heermanniThis species looks distinctly different from other gulls.
Iceland GullLarus glaucoidesThe Iceland gull is a medium-sized gull, although relatively slender and light in weight.
Caspian GullLarus cachinnansIt is a large gull at 56–68 cm (22–27 in) long, with a 137 to 155 cm (54 to 61 in) wingspan and a body mass of 680–1,590 g (1.50–3.51 lb).
Side by side: Glaucous Gull vs Iceland Gull · Glaucous Gull vs Heermann's Gull · Glaucous Gull vs Little Gull · Caspian Gull vs Glaucous Gull
Learn the Glaucous Gull for real
BeakBrain drills you on photos and calls until you can greet this bird by name in the field. Free to play, on any device.
Play BeakBrainEvery photo and recording on this page is credited to its author under the licence shown. Spotted a problem with this page, or have a better photo? Contribute.