Outdoor Ontario

Request for Information => Bird ID => Topic started by: Stephanie on January 25, 2015, 05:10:05 PM

Title: Gull ID
Post by: Stephanie on January 25, 2015, 05:10:05 PM

I heard about a Glaucous gull in my area today and went looking for it. I found this guy:

http://imageshack.com/a/img537/398/Sfsbwb.png

I don't know a whole lot about gulls but it's my understanding that Glaucous gulls are supposed to have white wingtips, while this individual clearly has gray ones. The closest match I can find is Glaucous-winged, but the species is not included on the OFO checklist, so I don't know if it's even a possibility to see one in Toronto. Can someone set me straight?

Thanks in advance.  :D

Title: Re: Gull ID
Post by: Reuven_M on January 25, 2015, 05:23:16 PM

This an adult Kumlien's Iceland Gull. The small head and bill and smaller size than Herring Gull help indicate this species. Wingtips on Kumlien's can range from almost pure white to almost black like a Herring Gull.

Title: Re: Gull ID
Post by: Rotarran on January 25, 2015, 08:50:47 PM

As I've recently learned, most Glaucous Gulls we see here are of the Juvenile variety and those are pretty much all white and larger than all the other gulls, except the Great Black Backed Gulls.  I finally saw one yesterday and the difference is so obvious...there's no mistaking it for anything else.