Species names in all available languages
| Language | Common name |
|---|---|
| Bulgarian | Сива чайка |
| Czech | racek tmavý |
| Danish | Atacamamåge |
| Dutch | Grijze Meeuw |
| English | Gray Gull |
| English (United States) | Gray Gull |
| Finnish | aavikkolokki |
| French | Goéland gris |
| French (French Guiana) | Goéland gris |
| German | Graumöwe |
| Greek | Λευκόστικτος Γλάρος |
| Icelandic | Sefmáfur |
| Japanese | ハイイロカモメ |
| Norwegian | ørkenmåke |
| Polish | mewa szara |
| Russian | Серая чайка |
| Serbian | Sivi mali galeb |
| Slovak | čajka púšťová |
| Spanish | Gaviota Garuma |
| Spanish (Argentina) | Gaviota Garuma |
| Spanish (Chile) | Gaviota garuma |
| Spanish (Costa Rica) | Gaviota Torero |
| Spanish (Ecuador) | Gaviota Gris |
| Spanish (Mexico) | Gaviota Gris |
| Spanish (Panama) | Gaviota Gris |
| Spanish (Peru) | Gaviota Gris |
| Spanish (Spain) | Gaviota garuma |
| Swedish | ökenmås |
| Turkish | Kül Rengi Martı |
| Ukrainian | Мартин сірий |
Revision Notes
Rodrigo Silva, Ignacio Escobar, and Fernando Medrano revised the account as part of a partnership with Red de Observadores de Aves y Vida Silvestre de Chile (ROC). Peter Pyle contributed to the Plumages, Molts, and Structure page. JoAnn Hackos, Robin K. Murie, Daphne R. Walmer, and Miriam Kowarski copy edited the account, August Davidson-Onsgard curated the media, and Huy Chi Truong generated the range map.
Leucophaeus modestus (von Tschudi, 1843)
Definitions
- LEUCOPHAEUS
- leucophaeus
- modesta / modestum / modestus
The Key to Scientific Names
Legend Overview
Gray Gull Leucophaeus modestus Scientific name definitions
Version: 2.0 — Published December 23, 2022
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Photos from this Account
Nonbreeding adult
Juvenile
Breeding adult
Breeding adult
Nonbreeding adult
Nonbreeding adult
Adult Gray Gull.
Gray Gull.
Possible confusion species: Dolphin Gull (Leucophaeus scoresbii).
Dolphin Gull has a very dark gray to almost black back and a heavy bright red bill.
Possible confusion species: Dolphin Gull (Leucophaeus scoresbii).
Dolphin Gull showing its heavy bright red bill.
Gray Gull.
Possible confusion species: Heermann's Gull (Larus heermanni).
Heermann's Gull shows a stronger contrast between the darker gray upperparts and slightly paler gray underparts, and bill is dull red tipped with black.
Possible confusion species: Heermann's Gull (Larus heermanni).
Heermann's Gull showing its dull red tipped with black bill.
Juvenile Gray Gull
Notice the narrow pale edges one the upperwing and scapulars.
Juvenile Gray Gull
Notice the narrow pale edges one the upperwing and scapulars. The secondaries have narrow pale tips, unlike in later plumages.
Juvenile Gray Gull
Notice the narrow pale edges one the upperwing and scapulars.
Juvenile Gray Gull
Formative Gray Gull
Replaced formative back feathers and some wing coverts contrast with retained juvenile wing coverts. Primaries are brownish and pointed at the tips.
Formative Gray Gull
Replaced formative back feathers contrast with retained juvenile wing coverts. Primaries are brownish and pointed at the tips.
Formative or First Alternate Gray Gull
Nearing the end of the first cycle, retained juvenile wing feathers become quite bleached. Some head and back feathers likely get replaced twice. signifying the presence of a First Alternate Plumage, as in other Leucophaeus gulls.
Formative or First Alternate Gray Gull
Nearing the end of the first cycle, retained juvenile wing feathers become quite bleached. Some head and back feathers likely get replaced twice. signifying the presence of a First Alternate Plumage, as in other Leucophaeus gulls.
Formative or First Alternate Gray Gull
Like Juvenile Plumage, but the freshly molted coverts are dark gray. Retained juvenile wing coverts and flight feathers become increasingly brown, faded and worn.
Second Basic Gray Gull
Similar to Definitive Basic Plumage, except for brownish tinge in the head and upper wings. The tail is blackish with narrow pale tips.
Second Basic Gray Gull
Similar to Definitive Basic Plumage, except for brownish tinge in the head and upper wings. The tail is blackish with narrow pale tips.
Second Basic Gray Gull
Similar to Definitive Basic Plumage, except for brownish tinge in the head and upper wings. The tail is blackish with narrow pale tips.
Second Alternate Gray Gull
Similar to Definitive Alternate Plumage, except that the head is darker and less patterned, and the coverts browner. Tips to secondaries are narrower than in Definitive Basic Plumage.
Second Alternate Gray Gull
Similar to Definitive Alternate Plumage, except that the head is darker and less patterned, and the coverts browner. Note some tertials and inner secondaries are replaced alternate feathers.
Second Alternate Gray Gull
Similar to Definitive Alternate Plumage, except that the head is darker and less patterned, and the coverts browner. Note tertials are replaced alternate feathers.
Definitive Basic Gray Gull
The body and upperparts are dull gray. The tail is blackish, and the uppertail coverts are dull gray; the primaries and secondaries are blackish, and the secondaries have white tips to the feathers, which are broader proximally; the white edges of the secondaries are also visible when the wing is folded. The head from the forehead to the crown can be whitish-gray, while the rest of the head is a dark dusky-gray which contrasts with the paler gray of the body, creating a hooded appearance. White eye-arcs contrast against the dusky-gray of the head.
Definitive Basic Gray Gull
Wing feathers are uniformly basic and grayish
Definitive Basic Gray Gull
Secondaries have broad white tips
Definitive Alternate Gray Gull
Note lighter gray to white head compared to definitive basic plumage.
Definitive Alternate Gray Gull
Note lighter gray to white head compared to definitive basic plumage.
Definitive Alternate Gray Gull
Note lighter gray to white head compared to definitive basic plumage.
Definitive Alternate Gray Gull
Note lighter gray to white head compared to definitive basic plumage. Note broad white tips to secondaries typical of definitive basic feathers.
Definitive Alternate Gray Gull
Note lighter gray to white head compared to definitive basic plumage.
Definitive Alternate Gray Gull
Definitive Alternate Gray Gull
Definitive Alternate Gray Gull
Partially leucistic lateral view.
Partially leucistic lateral view.
Fully leucistic lateral view.
Partially leucistic lateral view
Definitive alternate plumage showing mouth, bill, iris, and feet.
Former breeding colony at Playa Brava, Antofagasta, Chile
Breeding habitat; Atacama, Chile.
Foraging habitat; Antofagasta, Chile
Foraging habitat; Tarapacá, Chile.
Non-breeding habitat; Ica, Peru.
Non-breeding habitat; Antofagasta, Chile.
Non-breeding habitat; Arica y Parinacota, Chile.
Feeding on carcasses.
Feeding on fish.
Foraging
Preening
Mating
Flock
Flock
Flock
Copulating pair; November 8th.
Adults copulate between August–February with egg-laying occurring between the end of November and mid-January.
Nest
Macaulay Library Photos for Gray Gull
Top-rated photos submitted to the Macaulay Library via eBird. Note: Our content editors have not confirmed the species identification for these photos.