Iceland Gull or Glaucous Gull

[dbozkurt]

Sorry me again.

Think this maybe an Iceland Gull I managed to see a week ago, rather than a Glaucous Gull both have been seen in Stornoway Harbour in the last week or two. Got shots of it on the water over a 5 hour period (still shaking from the cold). Can anyone confirm please, and does anyone know the difference between Iceland and Glaucous. Not being lazy my id books are on a different Island and the rspb website drawings are rather vague.

Thanks Debs

PS the first picture was taken 3 hours after the other two so I suppose could be a different bird.

[James_Owen]

Looks like Iceland to me, Glaucous gulls are a little darker on the back and the beak looks much larger and heavier than on that bird. Finally, this looks like a 1st-winter gull, and 1st-winter Icelands have almost all dark bills, whereas Glaucs just have a black tip.

Again, top shots.

[Fourwings]

My moneys on another Iceland Gull, excellent images yet again Debs- well done.

[John]

Hi Debs

It appears to have a rounder head and a shorter, more slender bill that I would expect a Glaucous to have. The bill looks more pointed rather that the more blunt appearance that a Glaucous would have.

Another thing that stands out is the face. The Iceland has a kinder look about it whereas the Glaucous a fiercer look. On this bird I would go for the former.

The primaries to both birds differ too. The Iceland would have a more slender look and extend further past the tail than a Glaucous. A Glaucous has a blockier look to the primaries. Another pointer for the former.

Size wise the Iceland is slightly smaller than a Herring Gull whereas the Glaucous is slightly smaller than a Great Black Back.

Obviously you can't tell the size on this bird but for all the reasons I have stated I am fairly confident that this is an Iceland Gull (all three images).

P.S. Crackin photos BTW.

[dbozkurt]

Thanks John (and other kind folks) for the details, and the compliment, I am trying to get pictures without too much cropping but its difficult. I was going through the rest of the pictures I took today and missed this. An iceland gull and a very bemused Herring Gull, taken near the Marina. You can see the size comparison now.



Debs

[John]

Originally Posted by dbozkurt

Thanks John (and other kind folks) for the details, and the compliment, I am trying to get pictures without too much cropping but its difficult. I was going through the rest of the pictures I took today and missed this. An iceland gull and a very bemused Herring Gull, taken near the Marina. You can see the size comparison now.



Debs

Spot on sizewise to. A Glaucose would be larger than a Herring Gull.

John