Glaucous-winged Gull

Larus glaucescens

Introduction

A large pale-winged gull that breeds along northern Pacific coasts, a sighting of one on a landfill site in Gloucestershire in 2006 was the first British record.

Key Stats

Status

Very rare

Weight

1.1kg

Seasonality

BTO Records

153 records

Population and distribution stats for:

No data

No current data

No current data

No data

No current data

% expansion

Status and Trends

Population size, trends and patterns of distribution based on BTO and partnership surveys and atlasses with data collected by BTO volunteers.

Conservation Status

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This species can be found on the following statutory and conservation listings and schedules.

IUCN Red List of Threatened Species (global)

Least Concern

Schedule 1 Licence required (to disturb)*

Birds Directive Annex 1

* A guide only. Check details with the original legislation, especially those marked with an asterisk. See About Birdfacts for more information.

Population Size

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BOU Category

Source

First Record*

Gloucestershire, 2006

* First documented occurrence. Most species undoubtedly occurred before this. See About Birdfacts for more information.

Population Change

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Population trends of this scarce species are not routinely monitored.

Distribution

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This species is a rare vagrant and was recorded during Bird Atlas 2007–11 as shown on the map.

Occupied 10-km squares in UK

These figures come from Bird Atlas 2007 and indicate how widespread a species is.

No. occupied in winter

% occupied in winter

0.07%

Bird Atlas distribution maps show where bird species breed or winter in Britain and Ireland. For breeding maps, larger dots indicate higher certainty the species bred in that area.

Winter Distribution for Glaucous-winged Gull

Click the map to enlarge,
or view it on Bird Atlas Mapstore.

To view and download up-to-date distribution information aggregated from across BTO and partnership surveys and schemes, see our data holdings on the NBN Atlas.

Distribution Change

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This vagrant is too rarely reported to map distribution change.

Seasonality

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This species has been too rarely reported to BirdTrack during 2011–22 to properly assess seasonality.

Movement

Information about Glaucous-winged Gull movements and migration based on online bird portals (e.g. BirdTrack), Ringing schemes and tracking studies.

Britain & Ireland movement

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View a summary of recoveries in the Online Ringing Report

Foreign locations of birds ringed or recovered in Britain & Ireland

Dots show the foreign destinations of birds ringed in Britain & Ireland, and the origins of birds ringed overseas that were subsequently recaptured, resighted or found dead in Britain & Ireland. Dot colours indicate the time of year that the species was present at the location.

Winter (Nov-Feb)
Spring (Mar-Apr)
Summer (May-Jul)
Autumn (Aug-Oct)

Foreign locations of birds ringed or recovered in Britain & Ireland

European movements

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EuroBirdPortal uses birdwatcher's records, such as those logged in BirdTrack to map the flows of birds as they arrive and depart Europe. See maps for this species here.

Biology

Lifecycle and body size information for Glaucous-winged Gull, including statistics on nesting, eggs and lifespan based on BTO ringing and nest recording data.

Survival and Longevity

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Survival is shown as the proportion of birds surviving from one year to the next and is derived from bird ringing data. It can also be used to estimate how long birds typically live.

View number ringed each year in the Online Ringing Report.

Classification, names and codes

Taxonomy, names and species codes for Glaucous-winged Gull

Classification and Codes

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Order: Charadriiformes
Family: Laridae
Scientific name: Larus glaucescens
Authority: Naumann, 1840

BTO 2-letter code: JG
BTO 5-letter code: GLWGU
Euring code number: 5960

Alternate species names

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Catalan: gavià glauc
Czech: racek šedokrídlý
Danish: Gråvinget Måge
Dutch: Beringmeeuw
Estonian: hele-kiltkajakas
Finnish: amerikanisolokki
French: Goéland à ailes grises

German: Beringmöwe
Hungarian: bering-tengeri sirály
Icelandic: Heiðmáfur
Italian: Gabbiano di Bering
Latvian: peleksparnu kaija
Lithuanian: blyškiasparnis kiras
Norwegian: Gråvingemåke

Polish: mewa lodowa
Portuguese: gaivota-do-mar-de-bering
Slovak: cajka ladová
Slovenian: sinji galeb
Spanish: Gaviota de Bering
Swedish: gråvingad trut
Welsh: Gwylan Adeinlas

More Evidence

More evidence from Conservation Evidence.com

Partners

Birdfacts is based on data collected by volunteers participating in surveys that are organised and funded by BTO, RSPB, Esmée Fairbairn Foundation, JNCC and other partners.

BTO

Esmée Fairbairn Foundation

JNCC

RSPB

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