Page 216 - Complete Birds of Britain and Europe (DK - RSPB)

SKUAS, GULLS,AND TERNS
Order Charadriiformes Family Laridae Species Larus hyperboreus
Glaucous Gull
cloudy grey-
brown from red spot
buff wingtips head to chest on large
yellow bill
mottled brown
pure white
wingtips plumage IMMATURE
(1ST WINTER) pale grey
upperparts
underparts darker
than back

ADULT
(WINTER)
pale pink bill
with sharp short white
black tip wingtips ADULT
(WINTER)
pale pink legs
IMMATURE
(1ST WINTER)
IN FLIGHT
barred, mottled,
oatmeal-brown
plumage
ivory-buff
wingtips
IMMATURE
(1ST WINTER,
pale tail FADED) FLIGHT: majestic, often gliding and soaring; strong,
deep wingbeats in rather sluggish direct flight.
his is essentially a winter bird in Europe (although it does breed
Tin Iceland and Spitsbergen), hanging on into early spring in
northwest Europe while the snow lingers farther north.This fiercely
predatory gull follows fishing fleets and is found around northern
harbours, but also joins inland gull flocks, feeding on refuse tips and
roosting on reservoirs. Finding “white-winged” gulls (Glaucous
and Iceland) in winter flocks is an interesting challenge:
distinguishing between the two can be difficult.
VOICE Much like Herring Gull, wailing and yapping notes.
NESTING Pad of grass and stems on cliff ledges or ground; 2 or 3
eggs; 1 brood; May–June. ELEGANT SUMMER PLUMAGE
FEEDING Takes fish, invertebrates, and all kinds of offal and rubbish; In its immaculate grey and white summer plumage,
more predatory in summer. the Glaucous Gull is a handsome bird.
SIMILAR SPECIES OCCURRENCE
Breeds locally in Iceland. Scarce
ICELAND GULL browner in winter on beaches, around
see p.215
smaller harbours, tips, and reservoirs in
bill NW Europe, usually among flocks
dark of more common gulls, and often
wingtips and in groups of gulls around trawlers
tail-band far out at sea.
slightly HERRING GULL
smaller immature, similar to Seen in the UK
immature; see p.209 J F M A M JJ A S O N D
Length 62–70cm (24–28in) Wingspan 1.42–1.62m (4 3 ⁄4 –5 1 ⁄4ft) Weight 1–2kg (2 1 ⁄4 –4 1 ⁄2lb)
Social Flocks Lifespan 10–20 years Status Secure
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