Iceland Gull (Larus glaucoides thayeri), San Carlos Lake, Pinal County

This Iceland Gull was found by Keith Kamper, Dave Pearson, and Doug Jenness on 08 November 2017 and photographed by Keith Kamper on the same date.

Casual in Arizona with 14 accepted records and 2 more pending. Only 4 prior records away from the lower Colorado River Valley.

First-cycle bird. Smaller than the Herring Gull that was present. Grayish-brown plumage. Brown primaries with paler edgings. Small bill and rounded head. In flight the pale underwing due to inner webs of the primaries being paler than the outer webs. Glaucous-winged Gulls would typically be larger and bulkier and the primaries would be the same color as the tertials. A hybrid Glaucous-winged x Herring Gull would be similar in plumage but would typically be larger, bulkier, larger bill and wider wings.

08 November 2017, photo by Keith Kamper

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