Glaucous-winged Gull

Larus glaucescens

A common to abundant, year-round resident of the Pribilofs, this species should be seen daily at all times of the year. It tends to be most common in late summer and fall (August 1st and later) and least common during the late spring and early summer (June 1st-July 15th), though it is still present in numbers at that time. Numbers likely begin to decline during November with colder temperatures and the onset of winter. The abundance of this species in winter is likely predicated on the winter sea ice, with greater numbers of this species in years with lower ice amounts. The only breeding colony known from the islands was on Walrus Island, but it has since disbanded with the last breeding record there from 1949. A failed nesting attempt on St. Paul Island was recorded in 1954 and a successful nest was located on Otter Island in 2014 with no further definitive records of nesting tries from St. Paul, Walrus, or Otter Island. This species has on occasion attempted nesting at St. George Island since that time.

Photo by Lyle Hamilton
Photo by Sam Woods
Photo by Ryan P. O’Donnell