En bref

Migratrice

• Scientific Name: Larus dominicanus
• Spanish Name: Gaviota cocinera
• Family: Laridae
• Known Nicknames: Dominican gull, Southern black-backed gull, Karoro
• Average Length: 54–65 cm / 21–26 in
• Average Weight: 900–1400 g / 2.0–3.1 lb
• Wingspan: 128–142 cm / 50–56 in
• Key Feature: Dark black mantle and wings contrasting with a white body, and a bright yellow bill with a red spot on the lower mandible
• Primary Diet: Opportunistic Omnivore (primarily fish, marine invertebrates, carrion, and refuse)
• Range: Southern Hemisphere, including coastal South America, southern Africa, Australia, New Zealand, and sub-Antarctic islands
• Habitat: Coastal shores, estuaries, harbors, rocky cliffs, and sandy beaches
• Social Structure: Highly Social (gregarious, breeds in large, noisy colonies)
• Nesting/Breeding: Ground nests (scrapes lined with grass, seaweed, and feathers on rocky shores, dunes, or cliffs)
• Statut de conservation : Préoccupation mineure (LC)
• Évolution démographique : En hausse

The Kelp Gull (*Larus dominicanus*), also known as the Dominican gull, is a striking and highly adaptable seabird native to the coastal regions of the Southern Hemisphere. This large gull is easily recognized by its pristine white head, underparts, and tail, which contrast sharply with its charcoal-black back and wings, all complemented by olive-yellow legs and a heavy yellow bill featuring a distinctive red spot near the tip. Renowned for its intelligence and opportunistic nature, the Kelp Gull is a versatile predator and scavenger capable of thriving in diverse environments ranging from urban harbors to the icy shores of Antarctica. Perhaps its most extraordinary and controversial unique feature is its behavior in Patagonia, where these bold birds have learned to feed on the skin and blubber of living southern right whales when they surface, showcasing an intense and unparalleled ecological adaptation.

Faits amusants

These highly opportunistic birds are notorious for an incredibly bizarre and aggressive feeding habit: they land on the backs of living southern right whales to peck and feed on their skin and blubber, causing the massive marine mammals to alter their behavior to avoid them. When not harassing whales, Kelp Gulls showcase their intelligence by dropping hard-shelled mollusks from high altitudes onto rocks to smash them open. Additionally, they are nicknamed "Dominican gulls" because their stark black-and-white plumage resembles the robes of Dominican friars, and they hold the title of being the only gull species hardy enough to breed in the icy depths of Antarctica.

Habitats et répartition

Its geographical range spans widely across the Southern Hemisphere, encompassing the coasts of South America, southern Africa, Australia, New Zealand, and numerous sub-Antarctic islands, extending as far south as the Antarctic Peninsula. In South America, it is found along both the Pacific and Atlantic coastlines, from Ecuador and Brazil down to Tierra del Fuego, and it has also been recorded expanding its range into the Caribbean and the southeastern United States. Primarily a coastal species, it inhabits a diverse array of marine environments including sandy and rocky beaches, estuaries, sheltered bays, harbors, and offshore islands. It is also highly adaptable and frequently found inland, utilizing freshwater lakes, rivers, agricultural fields, and human-modified landscapes such as refuse dumps and fishing ports where food is easily scavenged.

Comportements & Reproduction

This highly gregarious species exhibits a complex social structure, typically nesting in large, noisy colonies that can range from a few dozen to thousands of pairs. They are primarily monogamous, often establishing long-term pair bonds that persist across successive breeding seasons. Courtship rituals are highly vocal and physical, involving synchronized head-tossing, distinctive mewing calls, and courtship feeding, a behavior where the male presents food to the female to strengthen their bond prior to egg-laying. During the breeding season, both parents collaborate to construct a shallow scrape nest on the ground, lining it with grass, seaweed, and feathers. The female typically lays a clutch of two to three eggs, which both partners take turns incubating for about 24 to 30 days. Parents share chick-rearing duties equally and aggressively defend their nesting territory from intruders using loud alarm calls and active aerial dive-bombing. To support their reproductive efforts, some populations have developed highly opportunistic and unique foraging strategies, such as kleptoparasitism (stealing food from other birds) or even feeding on the skin and blubber of living right whales, showcasing their remarkable adaptability in securing energy for their young.

Alimentation

The Kelp Gull (*Larus dominicanus*) is a highly opportunistic omnivore with an incredibly diverse diet that includes fish, marine invertebrates like crabs and mollusks, small birds, eggs, carrion, and human refuse. An exceptionally versatile and clever hunter, this gull employs unique feeding strategies, such as dropping hard-shelled prey like sea urchins and bivalves from significant heights onto rocks to shatter them open. Most remarkably, in regions like Argentina, Kelp Gulls have developed a parasitic relationship with Southern Right Whales, landing on the marine mammals' backs to peck at and feed on their skin and blubber. Additionally, they are notorious kleptoparasites, frequently stealing food from other seabirds, and they readily exploit human activities by scavenging at landfills and following fishing vessels for discarded scraps.

Couleurs

The adult Kelp Gull features a starkly contrasting plumage of a jet-black mantle and upperwings against a pure white head, body, and tail, complemented by greenish-yellow legs and a bright yellow bill with a signature red spot on the lower tip. This countershading—dark above and light below—camouflages them against the ocean depths and bright sky, while juveniles exhibit a mottled brown-and-grey pattern that blends seamlessly with coastal gravel and sand.

Distribution Map

Places linked to this species. A sighting is never guaranteed.

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Détails de l'attraction

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Featured places

• Bahia Paraiso / Barranca
• San Juan Bay