thumb|Adult Thayer's gull in non-breeding plumage
The Iceland gull (Larus glaucoides) is a medium-sized gull that breeds in the Arctic regions of Canada and Greenland, but not in Iceland (as its name suggests), where it is only seen during winter. The genus name is from Latin larus, which appears to have referred to a gull or other large seabird. The specific name glaucoides denotes its resemblance to Larus glaucus, a synonym of Larus hyperboreus, the glaucous gull; -oides is Ancient Greek and means "resembling".
Description
The Iceland gull is a medium-sized gull, although relatively slender and light in weight. In length, it can measure from , wingspan is from , and weight is from . Among standard measurements, the wing chord is , the bill is , and the tarsus is .
- Kumlien's gull, L. g. kumlieni
- Thayer's gull, L. g. thayeri
The nominate subspecies, L. g. glaucoides, is very pale in all plumage, with absolutely no melanin in the tips of the primaries in adult plumage. Adults are pale grey above, with a yellowish-green bill. Immatures are very pale grey; the bill is more extensively dark than with glaucous gull, and lacks pink.