Identification
54–65 cm (21¼-25½ in)
Black upperparts and wings. White head, underparts, tail, wing tips. Yellow bill with a red spot which is swollen in the tip, green legs, dark eye.
Hybridization
Hybridization of Kelp Gull with Herring Gull (producing a bird known as Chandeleur Gull) have been discussed in a thread in the Id forum.
Distribution
Mainly southern hemisphere - Antarctica, Australasia, southernmost parts of Africa and South America, sub-Antarctic islands.
An isolated population in Senegambia.
Taxonomy
Subspecies
Five subspecies are recognized[1]:
- L. d. dominicanus in South America, Australasia, and Antarctica
- L. d. vetula in southern Africa
- L. d. austrinus in Antarctica
- L. d. judithae in Subantarctic Indian Ocean islands
- L. d. melisandae in Madagascar
Habitat
Mainly coasts and coastal waters. However they are often seen at inland lakes.
Behaviour
Breeding
The nest is made in a shallow depression on the ground lined with vegetation and feathers. The clutch consists of 2 or 3 eggs. Both adults feed the young birds.
Diet
Their diet is very varied and includes scavenged fishery discards and refuse.
Reference
- Clements, J. F., T. S. Schulenberg, M. J. Iliff, D. Roberson, T. A. Fredericks, B. L. Sullivan, and C. L. Wood. 2017. The eBird/Clements checklist of birds of the world: v2017, with updates to August 2017. Downloaded from http://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/download/
- Avibase
- Handbook of the Birds of the World Alive (retrieved August 2016)
Recommended Citation
- BirdForum Opus contributors. (2024) Kelp Gull. In: BirdForum, the forum for wild birds and birding. Retrieved 8 May 2024 from https://www.birdforum.net/opus/Kelp_Gull
