Kelp Gull (Larus dominicanus)

(last update: March 12, 2015)

Kelp Gull (Larus dominicanus vetula) 2nd cycle, December 18 2024, Cape Recife - Kaapstad, South Africa. Picture: Chris Gibbins.

Breeding season at this location (34°11'30S 18°25'52E) is in December, with this years juvenile birds almost fledging by mid-December.
Therefore it’s convenient to consider the bird at this page as 12 months old.

Bird believed to be in 2nd pre-basic moult, moulting to 2nd basic plumage. Aged by pointed juvenile type outer primaries, but pattern on 2nd gen secondaries and 2nd gen rectrices very mature for this age.

2nd pre-basic moult: P1-P6 new 2nd gen, P7 growing 2nd gen, P9-P10 old juvenile. Secondaries all juvenile replaced.