Slaty-backed Gull

Overview
Slaty-backed Gull: Large gull, slate-gray back, upper wings; dark outer primaries separated from mantle by row of white spots. Gray underside of primaries; broad white trailing edge to wings. Bright pink legs, feet. Yellow eyes with red orbital ring. Yellow bill has red spot near tip.

Range and Habitat
Slaty-backed Gull: Coastal species of northeast Asia. Rare in coastal Alaska, most frequent in the Bering Sea. Casual in winter south to Pacific states.

INTERESTING FACTS
The Slaty-backed Gull is also called the Pacific Gull, though this also applies to a southern hemisphere species, Larus pacificus. The first confirmed breeding record for Alaska and North America was from Aniktun Island in July 1996. The total world breeding population is estimated at 131,300 pairs. A group of gulls has many collective nouns, including a "flotilla", "gullery", "screech", "scavenging", and "squabble" of gulls.