kelp gulls Vs herring gulls

[cateyes]

Hello

I was just wondering is there a differance between these two gulls other then one is black and white and one is black and grey? They both are the same size but are their feeding habits and temperments any differant?

[Michael Frankis]

Hi Cateyes,

Never seen Kelp Gull, but pics I've seen, their bills are stouter than a Herring Gull's bill, which would probably tie in with small differences in feeding ecology.

In practice, with most gulls feeding on human rubbish there days, maybe there isn't any difference any more ;)

Michael

[Gentoo]

Kelps may be a bit smaller than the Herring but not by much. It will depend on where they're from too I guess. Their voices are different. Kelp's is close to LBBG in quality. Long call displays differ too. Where as Herring points head up at about 80 degrees and then brings it down to terminate at 40 degrees; Kelp's display does not include the near vertical upward pose. There is a different in the timing of aquisition of adult plumage. Many Kelp Gulls mature in their thrid year, not the fourth. Kelp should also be compared to Yellow-Footed Gull.