Kelp Gull

The Kelp Gull has a wide geographic distribution, with populations found in Australia, Africa, and South America.  In North America, they are rare visitors, with most records around the Gulf Coast.  There have been rare and scattered breeding records north of their normal range, including one from coastal islands off of Louisiana.  They are a species that can be difficult to distinguish from some of the more common North American species, such as the Lesser Black-backed and Great Black-backed Gulls, but the Kelp Gull is considered to have the darkest mantle color of all of our gull species.

Habitat: Found around coastlines, not pelagic as some gull species.  They can be found in a variety of coastal habitats, as well as some inland habitats along major water bodies and rivers.

Diet: Omnivorous, with food items including fish, crustaceans, mollusks, marine worms, insects, eggs, young birds, small rodents, and carrion and refuse.

Behavior: Uses a variety of foraging techniques depending upon location and food item.  They will follow fishing vessels and other ships for offal and scraps, and will also visit areas such as garbage dumps for refuse.

Nesting: A colonial nester.  The nest is built in rocky areas, on sandy shores, or among wetland vegetation, and is a large structure built of seaweed and other vegetation. The female usually lays 2 or 3 eggs, and both parents help to incubate them.  Both parents help raise the young after the eggs hatch.

Song: Has a hoarse kee-wah call.

Migration:  Most populations of Kelp Gull are considered to be relatively sedentary, with little consistent migration.  However, some birds at the far southern edge of their breeding ranges in the southern Hemisphere may move northward for the winter.

Interactive eBird map: Click here to access an interactive eBird map of Kelp Gull sightings

Similar Species: Lesser Black-backed Gull, Yellow-footed Gull, Great Black-backed Gull.

Conservation Status: Populations are very large and appear to be increasing, and they are found over a wide geographic area.  The IUCN lists the Kelp Gull as a species of "Least Concern".

Further Information: 1) WhatBird.com - Kelp Gull

2) BirdLife International - Kelp Gull

3) ARKIVE.org - Kelp Gull

Photo Information: Photo taken by HeatherW - Photo licensed under Creative Commons Attribution NonCommercial 2.0 Generic License.

 

Click below for a higher-resolution map

South Dakota Status: Non-resident in South Dakota

Additional Kelp Gull Photos (coming soon!!)