About the Kelp Gull
The kelp gull, 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, and New Zealand. L. d. vetula is a subspecies occurring around Southern Africa.
Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
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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. This species ranges from 54 to 65 cm (21 to 26 in) in total length, from 128 to 142 cm (50 to 56 in) in wingspan and from 540 to 1,390 g (1.19 to 3.06 lb) in weight. Adult males and females weigh on average 1,000 g (2.2 lb) and 900 g (2.0 lb) respectively. Among standard measurements, the wing chord is 37.3 to 44.8 cm (14.7 to 17.6 in), the bill is 4.4 to 5.9 cm (1.7 to 2.
Text from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
What the Kelp Gull sounds like
Where it lives
Recorded as a rare visitor in United States, Canada, Spain, Costa Rica, Morocco, France, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, El Salvador.
When to see it
Peak activity in January · a resident species across most of its range
Easily confused with
Short-billed GullLarus brachyrhynchusThe short-billed gull has a length 40–45 cm (16–18 in) and a wingspan 100–120 cm (39–47 in).
Iceland GullLarus glaucoidesThe Iceland gull is a medium-sized gull, although relatively slender and light in weight.
Heermann's GullLarus heermanniThis species looks distinctly different from other gulls.
Side by side: Kelp Gull vs Short-billed Gull · Iceland Gull vs Kelp Gull · Heermann's Gull vs Kelp Gull
Learn the Kelp Gull for real
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