Iceland Gull
Larus glaucoides
Silhouette: Sharon Wegner-Larsen · PhyloPic
- KingdomAnimalia (Animals)
- PhylumChordata (Chordates)
- ClassAves (Birds)
- OrderCharadriiformes (Shorebirds and Allies)
- FamilyLaridae (Gulls, Terns, and Skimmers)
- GenusLarus (Large White-headed Gulls)
- SpeciesLarus glaucoides (Iceland Gull)
About the Iceland Gull
The Iceland gull (Larus glaucoides) is a medium-sized gull that breeds in the Arctic regions of Canada and Greenland, but not in Iceland (as its name suggests), where it is only seen during winter. The genus name is from Latin larus, which appears to have referred to a gull or other large seabird. The specific name glaucoides denotes its resemblance to Larus glaucus, a synonym of Larus hyperboreus, the glaucous gull; -oides is Ancient Greek and means "resembling".
The Iceland gull is a medium-sized gull, although relatively slender and light in weight. In length, it can measure from 50 to 64 cm (20 to 25 in), wingspan is from 115 to 150 cm (45 to 59 in), and weight is from 480 to 1,100 g (1.06 to 2.43 lb). Among standard measurements, the wing chord is 37.9 to 44.3 cm (14.9 to 17.4 in), the bill is 3.6 to 5.4 cm (1.4 to 2.1 in), and the tarsus is 4.9 to 6.7 cm (1.9 to 2.6 in). It is smaller and thinner-billed than the very large glaucous gull, and is usually smaller than the herring gull. It takes four years to reach maturity.
The call is a "laughing" cry like the herring gull, but higher pitched. It is migratory, wintering from in the North... Wikipedia →
Recent sightings of Iceland Gull in Vatnajokull National Park
LIVEiNaturalistClosest Relatives at Vatnajokull National Park
European Herring Gull
Larus argentatus
Great Black-backed Gull
Larus marinus
Glaucous Gull
Larus hyperboreus
Lesser Black-backed Gull
Larus fuscus
Common Gull
Larus canus
Ring-billed Gull
Larus delawarensis
Black-headed Gull
Chroicocephalus ridibundus
Arctic Tern
Sterna paradisaea
Black-legged Kittiwake
Rissa tridactyla
Little Gull
Hydrocoloeus minutus
Sabine's Gull
Xema sabini
White-winged Tern
Chlidonias leucopterus
Global Distribution
Warmer areas are where this animal is recorded most often.
Parks Where Found
| # | Park | Country | Daily sighting probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Vatnajokull National Park | 🇮🇸 Iceland | |
| 2 | Cape Breton Highlands National Park | 🇨🇦 Canada | |
| 3 | Gros Morne National Park | 🇨🇦 Canada | |
| 4 | Point Pelee National Park | 🇨🇦 Canada | |
| 5 | Acadia National Park | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 6 | Saguaro National Park | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 7 | Snowdonia National Park | 🇬🇧 United Kingdom | |
| 8 | Thingvellir National Park | 🇮🇸 Iceland | |
| 9 | El Vizcaíno Biosphere Reserve | 🇲🇽 Mexico | |
| 10 | Wrangell-St. Elias National Park | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 11 | Kenai Fjords National Park | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 12 | Wadden Sea National Park | 🇩🇪 Germany |
Quick answers
What are the chances of seeing a Iceland Gull in Vatnajokull National Park?
About 30% of wildlife watchers report a Iceland Gull sighting in Vatnajokull National Park, based on 959 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data.
When is the best time to see Iceland Gull in Vatnajokull National Park?
December has the highest sighting rate for Iceland Gull in Vatnajokull National Park in our monthly data.