Iceland Gull in St. Louis County
2013-11-29

'Rare Regular' in Minnesota

Adult Iceland Gull (Larus glaucoides) at the Superior Entry on the morning of 29 November 2013. This is the third adult Iceland Gull to show up in Duluth this fall so far. Although this adult Iceland Gull has completely unmarked white outer primary tips, suggestive of nominate glaucoides, it may simply be the white extreme of kumlieni (which is the race of Iceland Gull typically found in MN). Although the mantle was paler than adjacent Herring Gulls, I would not say it was a pale as Glaucous Gull, and although the iris appears quite yellow, there does appear to be some faint dusky mottling within the iris; these are both features that do not fully support nominate glaucoides, at least so far as is known. Additional photos of this bird can be seen at www.pbase.com/karlbardon, under Duluth/Superior gulls fall/winter 2013-2014, and labeled as Iceland Gull adult #3. Hopefully this individual will be seen again in the next few weeks to allow for better study. Although nominate glaucoides is probably extremely rare in Minnesota, I did photograph an adult in 2011 that was endorsed by many gull authorities as likely to be nominate glaucoides.

Karl J. Bardon