Cormorant (Phalacrocorax carbo)
Glaucous Gull (Larus hyperboreus)
Easily confused with Shag when not in breeding plumage. Cormorant is larger, heavier built, has a thicker neck and less rounded profile. Head diagnostically wedge-shape, with the back of the head as the highest point. Bill never yellow (but yellow naked area at base of bill). Juveniles usually with whiter belly than Shag, and with less brown tinge. Behavioural differences from shag; often dives without jumping, more common in brackish water, often flies high, and often chooses higher ground or objects when perching. Slower wing-beats than Shag, with more separated primaries. Subspecies sinensis with larger gular poach angle (se fig.).
Sound:Mostly heard at breeding ground. Coarse, vibrating calls "hahahahaharo". Also deep, rattling and creaking sounds.
Social interaction:
Distribution:
Xeno-canto: map
Ecology:Birdlife ecology
Links:
Observation.org Latest observations
Image search Flickr NB! May give other species
CCSounds:Recorded by Anon Torimi,http://www.xeno-canto.org ,CC license
All white wingtips like Iceland Gull. The following characters applies to all ages: Told apart from Iceland Gull by angular head profile, proportionally shorter wings and long, heavy bill. Bill longer than half the length of head, and shows prominent hook. Primaries extends just about past tail in sitting birds, and the whole rear of the bird seem heavier. Eye smaller than in Iceland Gull, with a stern 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.
Call:
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