# Glaucous-winged Gull (*Larus glaucescens*) The Glaucous-winged Gull is a large bird with beautiful gray wings and a white body. They love to hang out near the ocean and are often seen flying high in the sky or searching for food on the beach. - **Category:** [Birds](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/bird) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 2/5 · Low - **Snaps:** 7 - **Habitat:** Coastal areas ![Glaucous-winged Gull](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Glaucous-winged_Gull_RWD1.jpg&width=800) Photo: DickDaniels ( http://theworldbirds.org/ ), CC BY-SA 3.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Glaucous-winged_Gull_RWD1.jpg) ## Appearance The Glaucous-winged Gull is a large, sturdy gull with pale, bluish-gray wings and a white head and body. It has pink legs and a sturdy yellow bill with a distinctive red spot on the lower mandible, differentiating it from darker-winged gulls. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Aves - **Order:** Charadriiformes - **Family:** Laridae - **Genus:** Larus ## Interesting facts - A Glaucous-winged Gull once lived for an amazing 49 years in the wild! - These gulls have special glands to drink saltwater without getting sick! - They can drop hard shells from the sky onto rocks to crack open tasty snacks! - They often follow fishing boats, knowing easy fish snacks are about to appear! ## Special abilities - **Coastal Cleanup Crew:** Glaucous-winged Gulls can eat almost anything, helping them survive in diverse coastal environments and keep beaches tidy. - **Waterproof Wonder:** Glaucous-winged Gulls have special oily feathers that help them stay dry and warm, even in cold ocean water. - **Keen-Eyed Scavenger:** Glaucous-winged Gulls possess excellent eyesight, allowing them to spot food from high above or far away on the ground. - **Food Pirate Pro:** Glaucous-winged Gulls are skilled at snatching food from other birds, helping them get a meal without hunting. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 50-68 cm - **Wingspan:** 120-150 cm - **Weight:** 0.8-1.7 kg - **Lifespan:** 15-25 years - **Speed:** 55 km/h - **Clutch Size:** 2-3 - **Incubation:** 26-28 days - **Migration Distance:** 500 km ## Diet & Feeding The Glaucous-winged Gull is an opportunistic eater, feasting on almost anything it can find, from fish to human leftovers. - **Primary Foods:** fish, crabs, mussels, carrion, berries, discarded food - **Foraging Method:** Foraging ## Ecological connections - **Eaten by:** [Bald Eagle](https://www.snappit.app/explore/bald-eagle) (*Haliaeetus leucocephalus*) — Adult gulls and chicks can be prey for eagles. - **Eats:** California Mussel (*Mytilus californianus*) — Drops mussels from heights to break their shells for food. - **Eats:** Northern Anchovy (*Engraulis mordax*) — Catches small fish like anchovies in shallow waters. - **Eaten by:** [Orca](https://www.snappit.app/explore/orca) (*Orcinus orca*) — Rarely, orcas may prey on gulls on the water's surface. ## Traits - [Feathered](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/feathered): Feathered describes animals, primarily birds, possessing a covering of feathers. - [Social](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/social): Social animals live in organized groups, cooperating for survival benefits such as foraging, defense, and raising offspring. - [Scavenger](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/scavenger): Scavengers consume dead organic matter, helping to decompose carcasses and other waste in the ecosystem. - [Piscivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/piscivorous): Piscivorous organisms are animals that primarily subsist on a diet of fish. - [Coastal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/coastal): Coastal habitats are dynamic environments located along the interface between land and sea, influenced by tides, waves, and saltwater. - [Carnivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/carnivorous): This trait identifies organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of animal tissue. - [Diurnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/diurnal): Diurnal animals are primarily active during daylight hours, typically resting or sleeping at night. - [Migratory](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/migratory): Migratory animals undertake seasonal movements from one region to another, typically in response to changes in climate or food availability. ## Collections - [Birds](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/birds) ## Safety **Danger:** 2/5 · Low Watch from a distance and don't feed the gulls, as they can be very curious and might try to grab your food! ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Glaucous-winged Gull? Compare the silhouette, bill shape, tail length, wing bars and markings around the eyes. The same small brown bird at your feeder can look quite different in breeding plumage, winter plumage or its first year. Bird Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How long is Glaucous-winged Gull? 50-68 cm ### What is Glaucous-winged Gull's wingspan? 120-150 cm ### How much does Glaucous-winged Gull weigh? 0.8-1.7 kg ### How long does Glaucous-winged Gull live? 15-25 years ### How fast can Glaucous-winged Gull move? 55 km/h ### What does Glaucous-winged Gull eat? The Glaucous-winged Gull is an opportunistic eater, feasting on almost anything it can find, from fish to human leftovers. ### Where is Glaucous-winged Gull usually found? Coastal areas ## Where to spot - [Brooks River Archeological District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/brooks-river-archeological-district) — Alaska, US · Historic District - [Pike Place Market](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/pike-place-market) — Washington, US · Historic District - [Pioneer Square](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/pioneer-square) — Washington, US · Neighborhood - [Saxman Totem Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/saxman-totem-park) — Alaska, US · Historic District - [East Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/east-park) — Washington, US · Park - [Illahee State Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/illahee-state-park) — Washington, US · State Park [View all places to see Glaucous-winged Gull](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/glaucous-winged-gull) ## More Birds - [Black-crowned Night Heron](https://www.snappit.app/explore/black-crowned-night-heron) (*Nycticorax nycticorax*) - [Anna's Hummingbird](https://www.snappit.app/explore/annas-hummingbird) (*Calypte anna*) - [Great Egret](https://www.snappit.app/explore/great-egret) (*Ardea alba*) - [Blue Jay](https://www.snappit.app/explore/blue-jay) (*Cyanocitta cristata*) --- Source: [Glaucous-winged Gull: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/glaucous-winged-gull)