Gulls & Terns

Glaucous-winged Gull

Larus glaucescens

The most common large gull in Alaska, with pale gray wings tipped in white and pink legs. A year-round resident of Kodiak's harbors, beaches, and fishing docks.

Where to look

St. Paul Harbor, fishing docks, beaches, and refuse areas throughout Kodiak; impossible to miss.

Habitat

Coastal areas: harbors, beaches, and open ocean.

Diet

Fish, marine invertebrates, carrion, eggs, and refuse.

Natural history note

Glaucous-winged Gulls hybridize extensively with Western Gulls in the Pacific Northwest, producing a complex spectrum of intermediate birds.