Mystery White-winged Gull

[Barry Ulman]

This gull was hanging out at a shopping mall in Burlington last winter. It was heralded as a Glaucous Gull for a long time, but certain things didn’t add up. I saw it with Glaucous-winged Gulls, and it was no larger than them, maybe even a little smaller. The eye is pale, almost bluish; Glaucous Gulls are supposed to have yellow eyes. I was thinking about the possibility of Iceland Gull, but the Iceland Gull’s wings are supposed to extend far beyond the tail; this bird’s wings barely extend beyond the tail, more like a Glaucous.

I suppose it could be a leucistic or albino Glaucous-winged Gull. At any rate, it is a handsome bird. Anybody out there have any ideas about this bird?

Barry Ulman