Photo: Tony Fox / CC BY-SA 3.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Glaucous-winged Gull
Larus glaucescens
Glaucous-winged Gull (Larus glaucescens) — Shorebirds, Gulls & Auks of Europe & Northern Asia.
Found across 20 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Glaucous-winged Gull (Larus glaucescens) is a member of the Laridae family found in Europe & Northern Asia and North America. Adults weigh 1.1 kg. The IUCN Red List lists it as Least Concern.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Widespread and abundant — not currently at risk.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Charadriiformes
- Family Laridae Gulls, Terns, Skimmers
- Genus Larus
- Species glaucescens
Where it lives
Coastal North Pacific in eastern Siberia, Kamchatka, Kuril and Commander is. (eastern Russia); Aleutian and Pribilof is., southwestern Alaska mainland to northern Washington
Quick facts
- Weight
- 1.1 kg
- Diet
- Aquatic hunters
- Family
- Laridae
- Order
- Charadriiformes
- Habitat
- Wetland, lake & coast
How to identify
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Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Glaucous-winged Gull hunts aquatic prey such as fish and aquatic invertebrates.
Behaviour
A bird of coastal habitats, it uses a wide range of foraging strategies.
Migration
The Glaucous-winged Gull is migratory, making regular seasonal journeys between its breeding and non-breeding ranges.
The Glaucous-winged Gull (Larus glaucescens) is a member of the Laridae family, within the order Charadriiformes. It is found across Europe & Northern Asia and North America. Its distribution covers PAL, NA coastal North Pacific in e Siberia, Kamchatka, Kuril and Commander is. (e Russia); Aleutian and Pribilof is., sw Alaska mainland to n Washington.
It is a very large bird. Adults weighs around 1.1 kg, with a wing length of about 41.2 cm and a tail of around 16.6 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 899,000 km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Glaucous-winged Gull?
The Glaucous-winged Gull is a very large bird that weighs around 1.1 kg.
Where does the Glaucous-winged Gull live?
The Glaucous-winged Gull is found across Europe & Northern Asia and North America with a range covering PAL, NA coastal North Pacific in e Siberia, Kamchatka, Kuril and Commander is. (e Russia); Aleutian and Pribilof is., sw Alaska mainland to n Washington, where it is associated with wetlands, lakes and other open water.
What family does the Glaucous-winged Gull belong to?
The Glaucous-winged Gull (Larus glaucescens) belongs to the Laridae family, in the order Charadriiformes.
What does the Glaucous-winged Gull eat?
The Glaucous-winged Gull hunts aquatic prey such as fish and aquatic invertebrates.
Does the Glaucous-winged Gull migrate?
The Glaucous-winged Gull is migratory, making regular seasonal journeys between its breeding and non-breeding ranges.
Is the Glaucous-winged 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-winged Gull make?
1 real field recording of the Glaucous-winged 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-winged Gull's range?
The Glaucous-winged Gull has a mapped global range of about 899,000 km².
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
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