Herring and Glaucous-winged Gulls gather for a feeding bonanza on herring shoals, Vancouver Island. SCO 8136
The Glaucous-winged Gull, Larus glaucescens, is a large, white-headed gull residing from the western coast of Alaska to the coast of Washington. It also breeds on the northwest coast of Alaska. During non-breeding seasons they can be found along the coast of California. It is a close relative of the Western Gull and frequently hybridizes with it, resulting in identification problems—particularly in the Puget Sound area. Glaucous-winged Gulls are thought to live about 15 years. One individual, notable because he had only one leg, lived at least 30.[citation needed] The Glaucous-winged Gull is rarely found far from saltwater. It is a large bird and around the same size as a Herring Gull. It measures 50–60 cm (20–24 in) in length and 120–143 cm (47–56 in), with a body mass of 730–1,400 g (– lb).[2][3] with a white head, neck, breast, and belly, a white tail, and pearly-gray wings and back. The term glaucous describes its colouration. The ends of its wings are white-tipped. Its legs are pink and the beak is yellow with a red subterminal spot. The forehead is somewhat flat. During the winter, the head and nape appears dusky, and the subterminal spot becomes dark. Young birds are brown or gray with black beaks, and take four years to reach full plumage. Herring gulls are large, noisy gulls found throughout the year around our coasts and inland around rubbish tips, fields, large reservoirs and lakes, especially during winter. Adults have light grey backs, white under parts, and black wing tips with white 'mirrors'. Their legs are pink, with webbed feet and they have heavy, slightly hooked bills marked with a red spot. Young birds are mottled brown. They have suffered moderate declines over the past 25 years and over half of their UK breeding population is confined to fewer than ten sites.
Size: 6063px × 4035px
Location: French Creek, Vancouver Island, British Columbia, BC, Canada.
Photo credit: © David Gowans / Alamy / Afripics
License: Royalty Free
Model Released: No
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