Kelp Gull (Larus dominicanus)

(last update: March 12, 2015)

sub-adult Kelp Gull (Larus dominicanus)

IMMATURE AND ADULT GREAT BLACK-BACKED GULL VS KELP GULL

Blackish upperparts and thick bill in Kelp Gull give it a Great Black-backed Gull impression. Kelp Gull is quick in attaining a dark saddle, where Great Black-Backed Gull keep anchor-patterned scapulars for a prolonged period.
Also, Kelp Gull remain to show very limited white in the primaries (either the tips and the mirror, see picture below), while Great Black-backed Gull quickly develop a mirror on P10 (in 2nd gen P10) and normally develop large white tips, even obvious on outermost primaries in many immature birds.
A very small mirror on P10 and absence of a P9 mirror in adult Kelp Gull give it a completely different, dark, wingtip impression when compared to adult Great Black-backed (which has a merged mirror and white tip on P10 and always a very large mirror on P9 as well in adult plumage).

Great Black-backed Gull (marinus) 2nd cycle, February 02 2012, IJmuiden, the Netherlands (Mars Muusse). No blackish saddle. 2nd gen primaries with rounded pale tips. Limited black in tail. Chequered coverts.	Kelp Gull dominicanus 2nd cycle, September 24 2011, Lima, Peru (John Turner). Upperparts tone equals Great Black-backed Gull, but this taxon has much more black in the tail, plain brown coverts, bright yellow on bill and lacking pale primary tips.
Great Black-backed Gull (marinus) 3rd cycle JW376 November 15 2012, Boulogne-sur-Mer, France (Jean-Michel Sauvage). Already large mirrro on P10 and bold white tipped primaries in 3rd cycle (3rd gen primaries).	Kelp Gull dominicanus sub-adult, December 10 2012, Australia (Mick). Upperparts tone equals Great Black-backed Gull, but this taxon has much more black in the wingtip (marinus in this plumage would show large mirrors already). Note yellowish legs.
Great Black-backed Gull (marinus) 8CY JH0R Boulogne-sur-Mer, France (Jean-Michel Sauvage). Ringed Vest-Agder, Norway. Limited head streaking in winter, dark small beady eye, blackish upperparts, pink legs, massive bird.	Kelp Gull dominicanus adult, June 30 2007, South Africa. Picture: J. Avise. Upperparts tone equals Great Black-backed Gull, but this taxon has much more black in the wingtip, with just a tiny mirror on the outer primary. Often yellowish legs and dark iris.
Great Black-backed Gull (marinus) adult, 2009-2011, Acer Port, Israel. (Amir Ben Dov). Note very large white tips on P10 (no sub-terminal black) and on P9 (black band broken) and no black on P5. Very powerful, huge massive bill and beady eye.	Kelp Gull dominicanus adult, January 06 2012, Antarctic Peninsula (Michael Shepard).Birds on the southern hemisphere are in complete moult in our winter months. Here moult in inner primaries P1 new, P2 groiwng, P5-P10 old. Dark as marinus, but much more black in wingtip with just a small mirror on P10 and full broad band on P5.

FEBRUARY - PRE-BASIC MOULT

JUNE - END OF PRE-BASIC MOULT