loading...
A photo of a Kelp Gull (Larus dominicanus)
Kelp Gull

Kelp Gull

Larus dominicanus

The kelp gull (Larus dominicanus), also known as the Dominican gull, is a gull that breeds on coasts and islands through much of the Southern Hemisphere. The nominate L. d. dominicanus is the subspecies found around South America, parts of Australia (where it overlaps with the Pacific gull), and New Zealand. The kelp gull superficially resembles two gulls from further north in the Atlantic Ocean, the lesser black-backed gull and the great black-backed gull and is intermediate in size between these two species. The adult kelp gull has black upper parts and wings. The head, underparts, tail, and the small "mirrors" at the wing tips are white. The bill is yellow with a red spot, and the legs are greenish-yellow (brighter and yellower when breeding, duller and greener when not breeding). The call is a strident ki-och. Juveniles have dull legs, a black bill, a dark band in the tail, and an overall grey-brown plumage densely edged whitish, but they rapidly get a pale base to the bill and largely white head and underparts. They take three or four years to reach maturity.
Birda logo
Download Birda for free and join the community of curious everyday people connecting with the natural world
Birda logo
Download Birda for free and join the community

Kelp Gulls on Birda

Photos

Sightings

A map showing the sighting location
🦊
Kobus Louw
Tuesday 26 Sep 2023 - 12:19pm
South Africa
A map showing the sighting location
🦩
Cheri Kufal
Tuesday 26 Sep 2023 - 5:32am
South Africa
A map showing the sighting location
Profile picture for Chris Williams-Wynn
Chris Williams-Wynn
Monday 25 Sep 2023 - 10:33am
South Africa
A map showing the sighting location
Profile picture for Aart Verrips
Aart Verrips
Monday 25 Sep 2023 - 9:59am
South Africa
Connect with nature,
Find your flock
Download Birda - QR Code
© 2023 All rights reserved