Glaucous-winged Gull (Larus glaucescens) is in the Gulls, Terns, and Skimmers family (Laridae). Across the U.S., iNaturalist users have logged 9,236 research-grade observations of it in our sample, peaking in January.
Seasonal pattern in the national data: year-round resident. Counts also reflect when people are out photographing, so compare months within a state rather than across states.
When to photograph Glaucous-winged Gull: observations by month (U.S.)
About Glaucous-winged Gull
The glaucous-winged gull (Larus glaucescens) is a large, white-headed gull. The genus name is from Latin Larus which appears to have referred to a gull or other large seabird. The specific glaucescens is New Latin for "glaucous" from the Ancient Greek, glaukos. English "Glaucous" denotes a bluish-green or grey colour.From Wikipedia via iNaturalist — article, CC BY-SA.
Glaucous-winged Gull by state
| State | Observations | Peak month | Main season |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | 3,504 | January | Nov–Mar |
| Washington | 2,572 | August | Jul–Jun |
| Alaska | 2,155 | July | May–Sep |
| Oregon | 925 | January | Oct–Apr |
| Hawaii | 22 | December | Dec–Feb |
| New York | 16 | January | Jan–Feb |
| Colorado | 7 | February | Dec–Mar |
| Pennsylvania | 6 | February | Feb–Feb |
| Ohio | 5 | January | Jan–Jan |
| Utah | 5 | January | Dec–Feb |
Main season = months with at least 30% of the state's peak-month count.
Related birds (Gulls, Terns, and Skimmers)
Ring-billed Gull
Laughing Gull
Western Gull
American Herring Gull
Royal Tern
Forster's Tern
California Gull
Caspian Tern
Photography tips
- Use a fast shutter (1/2000 s or faster) for birds in flight.
- Focus on the eye and shoot at the bird's eye level.
- Approach slowly and stop if the bird changes behavior; never bait or flush birds.
- Morning activity peaks in the first two hours after sunrise.
FAQ
When is the best time to photograph Glaucous-winged Gull?
Nationally, January has the most observations, with the main season from December to November.
Where is Glaucous-winged Gull most often seen?
The most observations come from California, Washington, Alaska.