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Distribution
Glaucous Gull  Larus hyperboreus
The most common and widespread of the large gull species on the island group. Occurs at all times of year, but the great majority leave Svalbard in mid-winter (in the polar night). Most numerous by the large bird cliffs during the breeding season and around fishing boats the rest of the year.  Usually found along the coasts and in the fjords, more sparsely and seldom in the inland. The population probably numbers more than 5000 pairs.       

Features: A large gull of 63-77 cm and 1.2-2.7 kg. ♂=♀, the male is somewhat larger and bulkier. The adult birds are in winter plumage from early October until March (a few have full summer plumage in February). Younger age-groups have different plumages and there is some variation within the age-groups. Vigorous warning when disturbed at nesting site.   

​Breeding: Breeds throughout the island group, both solitarily and in colonies of up to several tens of pairs. Normally nests out of reach of the polar bear and arctic fox. Lays two or three eggs, usually in a large nest, built of moss, grass, seaweed and feathers. 


Recent observations
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  • Home
  • Hjem
  • Bird observations
    • Recent photos
  • Species
    • Regular breeding birds >
      • Brent Goose
      • Barnacle Goose
      • Pink-footed Goose
      • King Eider
      • Common Eider
      • Long-tailed Duck
      • Svalbard Rock Ptarmigan
      • Ringed Plover
      • Ruddy Turnstone
      • Dunlin
      • Purple Sandpiper
      • Grey Phalarope
      • Black-legged Kittiwake
      • Ivory Gull
      • Great Black-backed Gull
      • Glaucous Gull
      • Arctic Tern
      • Great Skua
      • Arctic Skua
      • Little Auk
      • Brünnich's Guillemot
      • Common Guillemot
      • Razorbill
      • Black Guillemot
      • Atlantic Puffin
      • Red-throated Diver
      • Northern Fulmar
      • Snow Bunting
    • Scarce breeding birds >
      • Northern Pintail
      • Common Teal
      • Common Scoter
      • European Golden Plover
      • Red Knot
      • Sanderling
      • Red-necked Phalarope
      • Sabine's Gull
      • Common Gull
      • European Herring Gull
      • Lesser Black-backed Gull
      • Long-tailed Skua
      • Great Northern Diver
      • Northern Gannet
      • Redwing
      • Northern Wheatear
      • Meadow Pipit
      • Lapland Bunting
    • Annual non-breeders >
      • Canada Goose
      • Cackling Goose
      • Snow Goose
      • Greylag Goose
      • Bean Goose
      • Greater White-fronted Goose
      • Whooper Swan
      • Eurasian Wigeon
      • Mallard
      • Tufted Duck
      • Steller's Eider
      • Common Goldeneye
      • Red-breasted Merganser
      • Eurasian Oystercatcher
      • Whimbrel
      • Pectoral Sandpiper
      • Common Snipe
      • Common Redshank
      • Black-headed Gull
      • Ross's Gull
      • Iceland Gull
      • Pomarine Skua
      • Snowy Owl
      • Gyrfalcon
      • Bohemian Waxwing
      • Barn Swallow
      • Song Trush
      • Common Blackbird
      • Fieldfare
      • White Wagtail
      • Common Redpoll
      • Arctic Redpoll
  • About
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  • Fugleobservasjoner
    • Siste bilder
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    • Vanlige hekkefugler >
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    • Årlige ikke-hekkende >
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      • Tjeld
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      • Alaskasnipe
      • Enkeltbekkasin
      • Rødstilk
      • Hettemåke
      • Rosenmåke
      • Grønlandsmåke
      • Polarjo
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