Kelp Gull
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| Kelp Gull | ||||||||||||||
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| Larus dominicanus (Lichtenstein, 1823, coast of Brazil) |
The Kelp Gull (Larus dominicanus) breeds on coasts and islands through much of the southern hemisphere. The race L. d. vetula occurs around southern Africa, and nominate L. d. dominicanus is the subspecies found around South America, parts of Australia (where it overlaps with Pacific Gull), and New Zealand (where it is known as the Southern Black-backed Gull or by its Māori name Karoro). The species specific part of the binomial name comes from the Dominican order of friars who wore black and white habits.[1] It is the southern equivalent of the northern hemisphere's Lesser Black-backed Gull and is similar in size to that species at 56cm with an 128cm wingspan. This is a mainly coastal gull. The nest is a shallow depression on the ground lined with vegetation and feathers. The female usually lays 2 or 3 eggs. Both parents feed the young birds.
The African subspecies L. d. vetula is sometimes split as Cape Gull, L. vetula. It has a more angular head and a smaller shorter bill. The adult has a dark eye, whereas the nominate Kelp Gull has a pale eye. Young Cape Gulls have almost identical plumage to similarly aged Kelp Gulls.
[edit] Description
The adult Kelp Gull has black upperparts 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. The call is a strident ki-och. Young birds have scaly black-brown upperparts, and a neat wing pattern. They take four years to reach maturity. Kelp Gulls are omnivores like most Larus gulls, and they will scavenge as well as seeking suitable small prey.
[edit] Gallery
 Larus dominicanus, photograph taken at Concón, Chile |
 Chicks peck at red spot on mothers beak to stimulate regurgitating reflex |
 Kelp Gull in Big Sur |
[edit] References
- ^ "Shelly Farr Biswell", "Southern Black-Backed Gulls", New Zealand Geographic, number 73, May-June 2005
- BirdLife International (2004). Larus dominicanus. 2006 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. IUCN 2006. Retrieved on 11 May 2006. Database entry includes justification for why this species is of least concern
- Ian Sinclair, Phil Hockey and Warwick Tarboton, SASOL Birds of Southern Africa (Struik 2002) ISBN 1-86872-721-1
- Seabirds by Harrison, ISBN 0-7470-1410-8
