Head to head
Kelp Gull vs Great Skua
Kelp Gull
VS Great Skua
Both are aggressive, opportunistic seabirds, but they range across opposite hemispheres and face different modern threats.
| Kelp Gull | Great Skua | |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific name | Larus dominicanus | Stercorarius skua |
| Range | Southern Hemisphere coastlines worldwide | North Atlantic |
| Notable behaviour | Pecks skin and blubber from living whales | Steals food from other seabirds and kills them directly |
| Diet | Omnivore, highly opportunistic | Fish, stolen catch, and other seabirds |
| Recent threats | Not documented as affected by avian flu | Hit hard by avian influenza since 2021 |
| Conservation status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Population trend | Stable, increasing in some areas | Decreasing |
| Habitat | Ocean, coastal | Ocean, coastal |
Kelp Gull vs Great Skua: common questions
Which one has been seen attacking living whales?
The kelp gull is the one documented doing this, observed pecking chunks of skin and blubber directly from the backs of living southern right whales, a behaviour not associated with the great skua.
Which one has been hit hard by avian influenza?
The great skua has suffered significant losses, particularly at Scottish colonies, since the 2021 outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza swept the North Atlantic.
Which one is found in the Southern Hemisphere versus the North Atlantic?
The kelp gull is found across Southern Hemisphere coastlines worldwide, while the great skua breeds specifically in the North Atlantic, chiefly around Scotland, Iceland, and the Faroe Islands.