Scientific name: Larus glaucoides Meyer, 1822
Bird group: Gulls and Terns
Field characters. 51-60 cm. Difficult to distinguish from Glaucous Gull, but adult recognisable in the field by red orbital ring, slighter bill, smaller size and longer wings which protrude beyond tail when folded. Adult breeding plumage white except for pale bluish grey back and wings; wing-tips are white. Bill is deep yellow with red spot on gonys, legs are flesh-grey. Non-breeding adult similar, but head, throat, neck, mantle and breast streaked with pale grey-brown. Juvenile light cream, entirely streaked with pale dusky-brown; bill dark brown-grey without obviously demarcated black tip (unlike bill of juvenile of Glaucous Gull, which has obvious black tip). Strongly bleached juvenile Herring Gulls may resemble juveniles of Iceland Gull but still have dark tail band and primaries. Less gregarious than Glaucous Gull; flight lighter and more graceful than Glaucous Gull's.
Voice. Generally a silent bird; most common call a repeated "kyow" reminiscent of Herring Gull's, but much shriller.
Distribution. A frequent winter visitor to the northern part of the region.
Habitat. Breeds on ledges of high steep cliffs, often together with Kittiwake and Glaucous Gull. Outside breeding season it is found in similar habitats.
Food. Chiefly fish, caught by plunge-diving. Also carrion, invertebrates and eggs and young of other birds.