Kelp Gull
Larus dominicanus
Also known as: Southern Black-Backed Gull, Dominican Gull
Habitat
Aquatic
Diet
VertFishScav
Active Time
Diurnal
Size
952 g
About This Species
A large, dark-backed gull common along coastlines, harbours and estuaries, where it scavenges opportunistically and forages on intertidal invertebrates and fish. It is a bold, adaptable feeder often seen following fishing boats or foraging around waste sites, and its deep, gruff calls carry well along the shore. Present year-round across much of its coastal range, it is easiest to watch closely around harbours and jetties where it is accustomed to people.
Ethical Viewing Guidelines
- A distance of 10 to 15 metres is generally adequate away from nesting colonies, though breeding birds on cliffs or rocky islets should be given considerably more space since gulls will dive-bomb intruders and can abandon nests under sustained pressure.
- Coastal wildlife protections and colony access restrictions vary widely by country and region, so check local signage or authorities before approaching known breeding sites.
- Never feed gulls deliberately, since it encourages aggressive behaviour toward people and food snatching in public areas.
LCAvesCharadriiformesLaridae
Seasonal Activity
869,606 sightings · 2000–2026
Citizen science records via GBIF
All monthsThis month
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Chordata
- Class
- Aves
- Order
- Charadriiformes
- Family
- Laridae
Traits
- Diet
- VertFishScav
- Foraging
- Aquatic
- Activity
- Diurnal
- Body mass
- 952 g
Photo
Wikimedia Commons / Wikimedia Commons
CC-BY-SA-4.0
Occurrence data from GBIF.