Head to head
Dolphin Gull vs Kelp Gull
Dolphin Gull
VS Kelp Gull
Both are opportunistic scavenging gulls of the Southern Hemisphere, but their ranges and food-finding strategies differ sharply.
| Dolphin Gull | Kelp Gull | |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific name | Leucophaeus scoresbii | Larus dominicanus |
| Conservation status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Range | Southern Chile, Argentina, Falkland Islands | Multiple continents and sub-Antarctic islands |
| Distinguishing feature | Bright red bill and legs | Glossy black upperparts, white underparts |
| Diet | Mussels, carrion, eggs, scraps | Fish, invertebrates, carrion, eggs, scraps |
| Notable behaviour | Scavenges near seal and penguin colonies | Documented pecking skin from living whales |
| Migration | Largely non-migratory | Largely non-migratory |
| Habitat | Coastal, ocean | Ocean, coastal |
Dolphin Gull vs Kelp Gull: common questions
Which gull has the more unusual feeding behaviour?
The kelp gull does, documented pecking chunks of skin and blubber directly from the backs of living southern right whales, a behaviour not recorded in the more range-restricted dolphin gull.
Which gull is found in more places?
The kelp gull is far more widespread, found along coastlines across multiple continents and sub-Antarctic islands, while the dolphin gull is limited to the coasts of southern Chile, Argentina, and the Falkland Islands.
What makes the dolphin gull easy to identify?
Its bright red-orange bill and legs stand out sharply against jet-black upperparts and a white tail, a more boldly coloured look than the kelp gull's black-and-white plumage.