General Description

Body white, except for black wings and back. Bill yellow with a small red spot at tip on the lower bill. Legs yellow. Young birds brown with mottled pale brown on upperparts and a dark brown bill. Body up to 60 cm long.

Biology

Kelp Gulls attain their adult plumage when about four years old. They are often gregarious and noisy. Kelp Gulls are known to break open molluscs by dropping them onto rocks from above. Kelp Gulls were first recorded as a vagrant to Australia in 1928 but have since established breeding populations within Australia.

Distribution

South-western and south-eastern mainland Australia and Tasmania.

Habitat

Coastal areas and offshore islands.

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