Kelp Gull (Larus dominicanus)

(last update: March 12, 2015)

2nd cycle Kelp Gull (Larus dominicanus)

For Kelp Gull, the breeding season runs from January to December, with juveniles also hatching in December. Therefore it seems wise to use the Humphrey & Parkes annual cycle terminology (An Approach to the Study of Molts and Plumages, The Auk 1959, Vol 76-1). The cycles can be illustrated as:

Every year, there is partial moult, the pre-alternate moult, which turn the birds into hormonal breeding conditions, with rich coloured bare parts and a moult of head and underparts. This "breeding plumage" only lasts over a short period, as within months the complete moult starts with shedding of P1 (the pre-basic moult). In this pre-basic moult, all primaries, wing-coverts, rectrices and secondaries are replaced in a more or less fixed sequence.

As Kelp Gull is a southern hemisphere breeding species, the moult cycle is about half a year ahead (or behind, but this is irrelevant for the terminology) of northern hemisphere taxa. The difference in moult timing is an important ID feature for recognision of out-of-range birds. In 1st cycle, the main difficulties probably arise with Lesser Black-backed Gulls.

JANUARY - 2ND PRE-BASIC MOULT

FEBRUARY - 2ND PRE-BASIC MOULT

APRIL

JUNE - 2ND BASIC PLUMAGE

AUGUST - 2ND BASIC PLUMAGE

OCTOBER

DECEMBER