Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos)
Iceland Gull (Larus glaucoides)
In all plumages distinguished by blue or purple speculum boldly framed in white. Male: metallic green head, brown breast, grey body and yellow bill. Female: brownish with dark speckles. Bill with variable, uneven orange markings on sides. Differs from Gadwall and Pintail by being noticeably more heavily built.
Sound:Female: A distinct coarse, laughing quacking; "haaa ha ha ha ha ha", with first note accented and then descending in pitch. Male: a more silent, very nasal "rriib". Display call a high-pitched short whistle.
Female:
Distribution:
Wikipedia: map (se also Xeno-canto below)
Ecology:Birdlife ecology
Links:
Observation.org Latest observations
Image search Flickr NB! May give other species
CCSounds:Recorded by Stein Ø. Nilsen,http://www.xeno-canto.org ,CC license
All white wingtips like Glaucous Gull. Told apart from latter by rounded head, longer wings and shorter, more slender bill. Bill shorter than half the length of head, and lacks prominent hook. Primaries extends well past tail in sitting birds, and the whole rear of the bird seem slimmer. Eye bigger than in Glaucous Gull, with a more "gentle" expression. Comparison with nearby Herring Gulls fruitful. Iceland Gull often smaller than Herring Gull, and less heavy, while Glaucous Gull usually larger. Impression reinforced by Iceland's agile maneuvering.
Sound:Like Herring Gull, but tone sharper.
Distribution:Wikipedia: map (se also Xeno-canto below)
Ecology:Birdlife ecology
Links:
Observation.org Latest observations
Image search Flickr NB! May give other species
CC