Glaucous-winged Gull

Overview
Glaucous-winged Gull: Large gull with gray upperparts and white underparts, head, and neck. Eyes are dark. Bill is yellow with red spot on lower mandible. Wings are gray with white edges and spots near the tips. Legs and feet are pink. Powerful direct flight, often soars on thermals.

Range and Habitat
Glaucous-winged Gull: Resident from the Aleutians and coastal Alaska south to northwestern Washington. Spends winters south along the Pacific coast to southern California. Preferred habitats include salt or brackish water along coasts, bays, estuaries, islands, beaches, mud flats, and nearby offshore waters; often found at wharves, dumps, fish canneries, and around fishing boats.

INTERESTING FACTS
The Glaucous-winged Gull has been known to kill and eat rabbits and pigeons, as well as Glaucous-winged Gull chicks. Older birds are more efficient at finding food than younger birds. They nest on roofs of buildings in some areas. They prefer to nest on flat roofs, but will nest on peaked roofs in flat areas near chimneys or other structures. A group of gulls has many collective nouns, including a "flotilla", "gullery", "screech", "scavenging", and "squabble" of gulls.