ChrisShannen2000
Iceland Gull
The Iceland Gull is one of a few predictable or regular occurring rarities along the Great Lakes. This bird can also be found on the northern range of both the east and west coasts.
The IG breeds in the arctic as well as Greenland, but the color coded map on allaboutbirds indicates it is non-breeding in its namesake Iceland. Hmm!
The IG shows up as a single in large groups of Ringbills and Herrings, so when out for a bit of winter birding, one should peruse carefully a flock of gulls to see if an outlier is hanging out.
This is a juvenile Iceland. Notice the full black beak. Another outlier, the Glaucous Gull, will have only a half black bill on the juvenile. The Iceland can easily blend in with a juvenile Herring Gull, except the juvenile Iceland will not have any black on the wing tips and will generally have lighter markings.
I found this gull last winter in a lake-like river out a mile or two before it empties into Lake Michigan. Because the water moves, it stays open while providing shelter, and many ducks and gulls will gather there.
Iceland Gull
The Iceland Gull is one of a few predictable or regular occurring rarities along the Great Lakes. This bird can also be found on the northern range of both the east and west coasts.
The IG breeds in the arctic as well as Greenland, but the color coded map on allaboutbirds indicates it is non-breeding in its namesake Iceland. Hmm!
The IG shows up as a single in large groups of Ringbills and Herrings, so when out for a bit of winter birding, one should peruse carefully a flock of gulls to see if an outlier is hanging out.
This is a juvenile Iceland. Notice the full black beak. Another outlier, the Glaucous Gull, will have only a half black bill on the juvenile. The Iceland can easily blend in with a juvenile Herring Gull, except the juvenile Iceland will not have any black on the wing tips and will generally have lighter markings.
I found this gull last winter in a lake-like river out a mile or two before it empties into Lake Michigan. Because the water moves, it stays open while providing shelter, and many ducks and gulls will gather there.