Back to
Miscellaneous gulls
homepage

Larus argentatus x glaucoides/hyperboreus?

Above: Adult (QE2 Reservoir, Surrey, 07 January 2010)

Although superficially looking like an adult Iceland Gull (L. glaucoides glaucoides), this well marked individual appears to be a white-winged gull with the character of a Herring Gull. Contra glaucoides characters appear to be:
- Structure, particularly head and bill
- Rather dark grey upperparts (though these look paler in the last image)
- Extent of red on gonys
- Extensive and heavy brown shawl

There was nothing in the wings to indicate impurity or partial leucism; the primary tips were clean white on both wings. One pro Iceland feature would be the long primary extension.

However, judging by the grey extension up the outer primaries, could this possibly be a Herring x Glaucous (or Iceland) Gull hybrid, or possibly even a second generation/back-cross hybrid (Steve Arlow, pers coms)? A similar bird was seen in Essex by Steve Arlow.