A Gull Hunts an Auklet

Photographer Gregg Thompson witnessed a hybrid Glaucous-winged Gull attack a Rhinoceros Auklet. This species of gull is omnivorous, eating a variety of food from fish, molluscs, and crustaceans to birds as large as Rock Pigeons. This gull killed the auklet, but left it for dead - perhaps it proved to be too large.

Note that the dark primary tips (darker than its mantle/back) indicates that this gull is a hybrid with the closely related Western Gull.

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All photos are © Gregg Thompson and may not be used without permission.