General

Kelp Gull: Large and stocky gull with white head, underparts, and tail. Back is black and black upperwing has white trailing edge and one distinctive white spot on outer primary tip. Bill is yellow with a red spot near tip; eyes are yellow-gray with red orbital rings; legs and feet are yellow-green. Sexes are similar; winter adult resembles breeding adult. Juvenile is brown mottled overall with a black bill and pink legs and feet. 2nd summer has white head, neck and underparts, gray-brown wings and a dark gray mantel; bill is yellow with a white tip and red spot near the tip on lower mandible.

Range and Habitat

Kelp Gull: Primarily southern hemisphere; has nested off Louisiana coast on the Chandeleur Islands. Accidental in Maryland.

Breeding and Nesting

Kelp Gull: Monogamous; colonial. Sometimes nests and hybridizes with Herring Gulls. Nest built by both sexes, in grassy hollows, in reeds, or on piles of rocks; two to three green blue or buff eggs marked with purple or brown; incubation ranges from 24 to 25 days and is carried out by both sexes. One brood per year.

Foraging and Feeding

Kelp Gull: Feeds in small groups or flocks at sea near coast and along shore; also estuaries, harbors, islands, inland rivers and lakes. Not pelagic. Takes food from water or land. Eats small fish, crustaceans, rodents, insects, and young of other birds. Also eats carrion and offal.

Vocalization

Kelp Gull: Harsh "kee-ooch." Repeated ""kwee-ah, kwee-ah, kwee-ah."

Similar Species

Kelp Gull: Greater Black-backed Gull larger, with extensive white in wing-tips, and pink legs and feet. Lesser Black-backed Gull smaller with slate-gray upperparts, darker gray underwings, and yellow legs and feet.