Kelp Gull

Smaller than the Great Black-backed Gull, but about the same size as the Lesser Black-backed Gull. In contrast to the latter species, its bill is heavier and the adult has greenish rather than yellowish legs. The adult's back is a darker shade of gray than the most likely subspecies of the Lesser Black-backed Gull to occur in the Caribbean. Length: 54-65 cm.; weight: 900-1,335 g. The Kelp Gull breeds in coastal South America north to Ecuador and southern Brazil; also in southern Africa and Australia. However, in recent years, wandering Kelp Gulls have been documented much farther north, in locations such as Texas, Maryland, Louisiana, Yucatán, Trinidad and Barbados. Has not been documented to occur in Puerto Rico, but may be found eventually.

TAXONOMY: CHARADRIIFORMES; LARIDAE; Larinae

Adult - Photo: G. Beaton

References

García Borboroglu, P. and P. Yorio. 2004. Habitat requirements and selection by Kelp Gulls (Larus dominicanus) in central and northern Patagonia, Argentina. Auk 121(1):243-252.

del Hoyo, J., A. Elliott, and J. Sargatal, eds. 1996. Handbook of Birds of the World, Vol. 3. Hoatzin to Auks. Lynx Edicions, Barcelona.

Harrison, P. 1983. Seabirds: an identification guide. Houghton Mifflin, Boston.

Harrison, P. 1987. A field guide to seabirds of the world. Stephen Greene Press, Lexington, MA.

Jiguet, F. 2002. Taxonomy of the Kelp Gull Larus dominicanus Lichtenstein inferred from biometrics and wing plumage pattern, including two previously undescribed subspecies. Bulletin British Ornithologists' Club 122(1):50-71.

http://www.bway.net/~lewis/birds/trind/trindk.html

Kelp Gull, Spanish text

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