Mmm... Hard-shell seafood for dinner!
Glaucous-winged Gull (Larus glaucescens)
Did You Know?
- Glaucous-winged gulls have a distinctive "keow" call
- The glaucous-winged gull is native to this area and all of the north Pacific coast
- The glaucous-winged gull is a very territorial bird and most males will end up fighting (squabbling) in defense
- Food items that have hard shells are thrown onto rocks from the air to break them open so the glaucous-winged gull can feed on them
- Glaucous-winged gulls have been known to interbreed with the herring gull in Alaska and one mating pair of these species was found in British Columbia
Characteristics:
- Adult birds typically size 20-23 inches in length and weigh 900-1200 g
- Their head and under-parts are white, which their back is silvery grey
- Their plumage changes while breeding; when non-breeding, there is a dusky smudge on their head and neck
Breeding on cliffs
Habitat:
- The glaucous-winged gull breeds on rocky islands and coastal cliffs
- They forage at sea in intertidal areas, feeding on carrion, fish, invertebrates, seaweed, and stolen food from other marine birds
Breeding:
- Breeding mostly occurs along the coast of Washington
- Birds first breed at four years of age
- Nests are often built on the ground
A glaucous-winged gull
Conservation:
- The population of glaucous-winged gulls has increased by 3.5 times in the last 50 years due to the output of human wastes
- Since these birds forage on human wastes, they are considered pests in areas of dense populations
- Glaucous-winged gulls nest on flat rooftops of buildings, which is somewhat of a nuisance for building owners
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