A large, bulky, pale, four-year gull of northern latitudes; standing or sitting birds show white wingtips at all ages. Alternate Adult is entirely white with pale gray mantle; broad white trailing edge to the wing that widens on the mostly white primaries, eye is yellow, legs are pink, and bill is yellow with red spot at the tip. Basic Adult has faint brown streaks on nape and crown. Third-cycle birds have black ring on yellow bill. Second-cycle birds have sparse brown mottling on upperparts and lower belly, pale gray back, pale eye, and pink bill with black tip. First-cycle birds range from whitish to pale brownish overall, with diffuse pale mottled plumage, dark eye, mostly white flight feathers, and pink bill with well-defined black tip. Compare Iceland and Glaucous-winged Gulls.

Length: 69 (cm) Wingspan: 152 (cm)

Voice:

Hoarse, trumpeting, and bugling notes.

Habitat:

Coastal areas, reservoirs, garbage dumps.

Behavior:

Often breeds colonially. Nest is a mat of vegetation on ground or rocky ledge. Sometimes flocks with other gulls.

Feeding:

Forages on water or land. Eats a wide variety of small animals, fish, carrion, and human scraps.