Kelp Gull

Larus dominicanus

Introduction

Kelp Gull is a very rare vagrant to the UK. The first record was at Grafham Water, Cambridgeshire in summer 2022, with the same bird returning, albeit briefly, the following two summers. Kelp Gulls occur around the coasts of southern Africa, South America, Australia and New Zealand. Prior to the UK record there were a handful of records further north, including in France.

Key Stats

Status

Very rare

Weight

1.1kg

Seasonality

<1%

BTO Records

1 record

Population and distribution stats for:

No data

No current data

No current data

No data

No current data

No current data

Status and Trends

Population size, trends and patterns of distribution based on BTO and partnership surveys and atlasses with data collected by BTO volunteers.

Conservation Status

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This species can be found on the following statutory and conservation listings and schedules.

IUCN Red List of Threatened Species (global)

Least Concern

Schedule 1 Licence required (to disturb)*

* A guide only. Check details with the original legislation, especially those marked with an asterisk. See About Birdfacts for more information.

Population Size

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BOU Category

Source

First Record*

Cambridgeshire, 2022

* First documented occurrence. Most species undoubtedly occurred before this. See About Birdfacts for more information.

Population Change

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Population trends of this scarce species are not routinely monitored.

Seasonality

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Weekly pattern of occurrence

The graph shows when the species is present in the UK, with taller bars indicating a higher likelihood of encountering the species in appropriate regions and habitats.

Phenology graph — Weekly occurrence patterns (shaded cells and reporting rates (vertical bars) based on BirdTrack data. Reporting rates give the likelihood of encountering the species each week.

Movement

Information about Kelp Gull movements and migration based on online bird portals (e.g. BirdTrack), Ringing schemes and tracking studies.

European movements

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EuroBirdPortal uses birdwatcher's records, such as those logged in BirdTrack to map the flows of birds as they arrive and depart Europe. See maps for this species here.

Biology

Lifecycle and body size information for Kelp Gull, including statistics on nesting, eggs and lifespan based on BTO ringing and nest recording data.

Survival and Longevity

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Survival is shown as the proportion of birds surviving from one year to the next and is derived from bird ringing data. It can also be used to estimate how long birds typically live.

Classification, names and codes

Taxonomy, names and species codes for Kelp Gull

Classification and Codes

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Order: Charadriiformes
Family: Laridae
Scientific name: Larus dominicanus
Authority: Lichtenstein, 1823

Alternate species names

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Catalan: Gavià de Lichtenstein
Czech: Racek jižní
Danish: Tangmåge
Dutch: Kelpmeeuw
Finnish: etelänselkälokki
French: Goéland dominicain

German: Dominikanermöwe
Hungarian: déli sirály
Icelandic: Þangmáfur
Irish: Þangmáfur
Italian: Mugnaiaccio australe
Lithuanian: Dominikinis kiras
Norwegian: Taremåke

Polish: mewa po?udniowa
Portuguese: gaivotão
Slovak: ?ajka vznešená
Spanish: Gaviota Cocinera
Swedish: kelptrut

More Evidence

More evidence from Conservation Evidence.com

Partners

Birdfacts is based on data collected by volunteers participating in surveys that are organised and funded by BTO, RSPB, Esmée Fairbairn Foundation, JNCC and other partners.

BTO

Esmée Fairbairn Foundation

JNCC

RSPB

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