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Very similar to Glaucous Gull, having whitish primaries, adults with pale gray back and yellow bill with red spot, immatures with finely brown-barred plumage. However Iceland Gull is smaller, even slightly or obviously smaller and shorter-legged than Herring Gull and usually more lightly build, with "normal-sized" bill, proportionately larger eye and rather rounded head giving a comparatively gentle appearance; in flight it often gives a short-necked and small-headed impression. As a rule, the bill is obviously shorter than the length of (long) projection of primaries beyond the tale-tip.

1st years are usually told by pattern: extensive dark tip covering about half of bill, shading into onlyslight paler (duff flesh or grey) base. Some Iceland retain diagnostic bill pattern well into 2nd year, but others subsequently acquire Glaucous-like pattern. Some adult and 3rd year Iceland have slightly greenish-yellow bill color (always yellowish on Glaucous, without greenish tone).Adult'sorbital ring reddish.

Length 52-60 cm, wingspan 140-150 cm.

Distribution

Breeds in Greenland and in North Canada (but not in Iceland!). Rare winter visitor to NW Europe.

Within mainland Europe, Iceland Gull meetings are known on the Black Sea coast in the Krasnodar Territory (November 2016), in Minsk (March 2019) and, last but not least, near Odesa (November 2021).

Biology

It breeds in pairs on the rocky shores of the Arctic islands, at other times kept near the edge of the ice in the open sea. In summer, it feeds mainly on fish, eggs and chicks of other birds, in winter it feeds mainly on waste in fishing ports and landfills.

References

1. Svensson, L., Mullarney, K., & Zetterström, D. (2010). Collins bird guide 2nd edition. British Birds, 103, 248-252.
2. Полный определитель птиц европейской части России / Под общей редакцией д.б.н. М. В. Калякина: В 3 частях. - Часть 2. М.: ООО "Фитон XXI", 2014.
3. http://gull-research.org/glaucoides/1cyaugdec.html