Glaucous gull
A large Arctic gull with pale plumage and no black on wings.
The glaucous gull (Larus hyperboreus) is a large gull, the second-largest gull in the world. It breeds in Arctic regions of the Northern Hemisphere and winters south to shores of the Holarctic, including the North Atlantic and North Pacific Oceans, the British Isles, the northernmost states of the United States, and the Great Lakes. The species is notable for its very pale plumage with no black on the wings or tail, and its thick yellow bill in adults.
- scientific_name
- Larus hyperboreus
- field
- Ornithology
- known_for
- Second-largest gull species; heaviest gull in some populations
- length_range
- 55 to 77 cm
- wingspan_range
- 132 to 170 cm (possibly 182 cm)
- weight_range
- 960 to 2,700 g
- subspecies_count
- 4 recognized subspecies
Lore & Background
The glaucous gull is a powerful bird, considerably larger, bulkier, and thicker-billed than the similar Iceland gull. It can sometimes equal the size of the great black-backed gull, often considered the 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. On Coats Island in Canada, the gulls are nearly 15% heavier than some other known populations, with a mean weight of 1.86 kg in five males and 1.49 kg in seven females. Another study on Wrangel Island reported even higher weights: 9 males averaged 2.32 kg and 6 females averaged 2.1 kg, which if accurate would make the glaucous gull the heaviest gull and shorebird in the world, though not necessarily the largest in length.
Reader's Guide
The glaucous gull is significant as the second-largest gull species globally, with some populations potentially being the heaviest gull and shorebird. Its distribution spans Arctic breeding grounds and Holarctic wintering areas, including the Great Lakes and northern US states. The species is omnivorous, feeding on fish, insects, molluscs, starfish, offal, scraps, eggs, small birds, small mammals, carrion, seeds, berries, and grains. It breeds colonially or singly on coasts and cliffs, laying two to four light brown eggs with dark brown splotches. The call is a 'laughing' cry similar to that of the herring gull but deeper. The glaucous gull takes four years to reach maturity. Its pale plumage, with no black on wings or tail, distinguishes it from many other gulls. The older English name 'burgomaster' reflects its historical recognition.
Did You Know?
- The glaucous gull is the second-largest gull in the world.
- An older English name for this species is burgomaster.
- On Wrangel Island, some glaucous gulls reportedly averaged 2.32 kg in males, which if accurate would make it the heaviest gull and shorebird in the world.
- The specific name hyperboreus is Latin for 'northern' from the Ancient Greek Huperboreoi people from the far north.
More in Birds of the Arctic 1-24
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