A very dark-backed Asian gull that may breed in small numbers in northern Alaska during the summer. Migrates through the east coast of Asia to Korea. Rarely encountered in North America outside of northern Alaska. Usually found among flocks of gulls.

Similar species:
Western Gulls also have dark backs. Hybrid Western x Glaucous-winged Gulls, which can have variable streaked heads in the winter and darker wingtips and backs, could cause confusion. Slaty-backed Gulls also hybridize with Glaucous-winged Gulls in Siberia. Watch for pale eye, fairly crisp streaks on head and neck often concentrated at the eye (giving a frown appearance), black wing-tips and white subterminal spots on outstretched wings at the primaries (referred to as "the string-of-pearls"). See photographs below.

Sources:
Ehrlich, Dobkin and Wheye, (1988)
www.birdinfo.com

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