
Glaucous-winged Gull (also known commonly as Western Gull hybrid or Pacific Northwest Gull)
Kingdom: Animalia, Phylum: Chordata, Class: Aves, Order: Charadriiformes, Family: Laridae, Genus: Larus, Species: L. glaucescens
Family: Laridae (Gulls, Terns, and Skimmers)
- Shape
- Symmetrical vane with a softly rounded tip and loose, fluffy structure overall
- Size
- Approximately 2 to 3 inches long, consistent with a soft body contour or covert feather from a medium-to-large gull species
- Rarity
- Very Common and abundant throughout its natural coastal range
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Description
A soft, all-white body feather belonging to a large gull species common along the Pacific Northwest waterfront. Gulls are opportunistic, highly adaptable seabirds with robust bodies, webbed feet, and strong hooked bills.
Colour & Pattern
Pure uniform white across the entire feather, lacking any spots, barring, or melanin pigmentation
Barb Structure
Transitioning from pennaceous at the upper tip to plumulaceous (fluffy and loose without strong hooklets) near the base, typical of insulative body feathers
Texture & Surface
Soft, silky, and downy to the touch with a matte finish and high flexibility
Key Features
Pure white coloration combined with a soft, semiplume-like structure and small-to-moderate size typical of gull underparts
Habitat
Marine coastal environments, beaches, rocky shores, harbours, estuaries, and urban waterfront areas
Geographic Range
Pacific coast of North America from Alaska down to northwestern Mexico, year-round resident along the Pacific Northwest waterfront
Ecological Role
Act as important marine scavengers and top coastal predators, helping maintain marine ecosystem health by consuming carrion and organic waste
Similar Species
Other gulls such as the Western Gull or Mew Gull, which share similar white body plumage and coastal habitats
Interesting Facts
Glaucous-winged Gulls frequently hybridize with Western Gulls in the Pacific Northwest, producing offspring with variable gray-and-white mantle shades
Condition Notes
Fair condition with some slight fraying at the base and minor wear along the barbules, typical of a naturally molted feather found outdoors
Notes
Found in West Seattle near the waterfront