Photo: Sowls, Art / Public domain (Wikimedia Commons)

Least Concern

Shorebirds

Glaucous Gull

Larus hyperboreus

Glaucous Gull (Larus hyperboreus) — Shorebirds, Gulls & Auks of Europe & Northern Asia.

Field guide · LocationsWhere to see this bird

Found across 20 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.

Regional checklists

Birds of Alberta Birds of British Columbia Birds of Manitoba Birds of New Brunswick Birds of Newfoundland and Labrador Birds of Nova Scotia Birds of Northwest Territories Birds of Nunavut Birds of Ontario Birds of Prince Edward Island

By family

Gulls, Terns & Skimmers of Alberta Gulls, Terns & Skimmers of British Columbia Gulls, Terns & Skimmers of Manitoba Gulls, Terns & Skimmers of New Brunswick Gulls, Terns & Skimmers of Newfoundland and Labrador Gulls, Terns & Skimmers of Nova Scotia Gulls, Terns & Skimmers of Northwest Territories Gulls, Terns & Skimmers of Nunavut Gulls, Terns & Skimmers of Ontario Gulls, Terns & Skimmers of Prince Edward Island

See what's near you right now

The Glaucous Gull (Larus hyperboreus) is a member of the Laridae family found in Europe & Northern Asia and North America. Adults weigh 1.5 kg. The IUCN Red List lists it as Least Concern.

Conservation status

IUCN Red List

LC Least Concern

Widespread and abundant — not currently at risk.

Where it fits

Class Aves
Order Charadriiformes
Family Laridae Gulls, Terns, Skimmers
Genus Larus
Species hyperboreus

Where it lives

Circumpolar Arctic coasts

Quick facts

Weight: 1.5 kg
Diet: Omnivores
Family: Laridae
Order: Charadriiformes
Habitat: Wetland, lake & coast

How to identify

Similar birds

Least Concern

Biology & behaviour

Diet

The Glaucous Gull is a omnivore — it takes a broad, omnivorous diet of both plant and animal foods.

Behaviour

A bird of coastal habitats, it uses a wide range of foraging strategies.

Migration

The Glaucous Gull is migratory, making regular seasonal journeys between its breeding and non-breeding ranges.

The Glaucous Gull (Larus hyperboreus) is a species of bird in the Laridae family, part of the order Charadriiformes. It is found across Europe & Northern Asia and North America. Its distribution covers PAL, NA circumpolar Arctic coasts.

It is a very large bird. Adults weighs around 1.5 kg, with a wing length of about 46.3 cm and a tail of around 18.8 cm.

The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.

The species has a mapped global range of roughly 2.4 million km².

Songs & calls

Glaucous Gull — Call

Recorded by AUDEVARD Aurélien Licence: CC BY-NC-SA 4.0

Frequently asked questions

How big is the Glaucous Gull?

The Glaucous Gull is a very large bird that weighs around 1.5 kg.

Where does the Glaucous Gull live?

The Glaucous Gull is found across Europe & Northern Asia and North America with a range covering PAL, NA circumpolar Arctic coasts, where it is associated with wetlands, lakes and other open water.

What family does the Glaucous Gull belong to?

The Glaucous Gull (Larus hyperboreus) belongs to the Laridae family, in the order Charadriiformes.

What does the Glaucous Gull eat?

The Glaucous Gull is a omnivore — it takes a broad, omnivorous diet of both plant and animal foods.

Does the Glaucous Gull migrate?

The Glaucous Gull is migratory, making regular seasonal journeys between its breeding and non-breeding ranges.

Is the Glaucous Gull endangered?

The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.

What sound does the Glaucous Gull make?

1 real field recording of the Glaucous Gull — including its call — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.

How large is the Glaucous Gull's range?

The Glaucous Gull has a mapped global range of about 2.4 million km².