Photo: Cláudio Dias Timm / CC BY 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Dolphin Gull
Leucophaeus scoresbii
Dolphin Gull (Leucophaeus scoresbii) — Shorebirds, Gulls & Auks of South America.
Found across 4 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Dolphin Gull (Leucophaeus scoresbii) is a member of the Laridae family found in South America. Adults weigh 524 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Least Concern.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Widespread and abundant — not currently at risk.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Charadriiformes
- Family Laridae Gulls, Terns, Skimmers
- Genus Leucophaeus
- Species scoresbii
Where it lives
Coastal central, southern Chile and Argentina to Tierra del Fuego; Falkland Is.
Quick facts
- Weight
- 524 g
- Diet
- Omnivores
- Family
- Laridae
- Order
- Charadriiformes
- Habitat
- Wetland, lake & coast
How to identify
Similar birds
Not Evaluated
Least Concern
Least Concern
Not Evaluated
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Dolphin Gull is a omnivore — it takes a broad, omnivorous diet of both plant and animal foods.
Behaviour
A bird of open sea and coastal waters, it forages mainly on the ground.
Migration
The Dolphin Gull is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.
The Dolphin Gull (Leucophaeus scoresbii) belongs to the Laridae family of the order Charadriiformes. Its range spans South America. Its distribution covers SA coastal c, s Chile and Argentina to Tierra del Fuego; Falkland Is.
It is a large bird. Adults weighs around 524 g, with a wing length of about 32.3 cm and a tail of around 12.9 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
Its mapped global range covers an estimated 472,000 km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Dolphin Gull?
The Dolphin Gull is a large bird that weighs around 524 g.
Where does the Dolphin Gull live?
The Dolphin Gull is found across South America with a range covering SA coastal c, s Chile and Argentina to Tierra del Fuego; Falkland Is, where it is associated with wetlands, lakes and other open water.
What family does the Dolphin Gull belong to?
The Dolphin Gull (Leucophaeus scoresbii) belongs to the Laridae family, in the order Charadriiformes.
What does the Dolphin Gull eat?
The Dolphin Gull is a omnivore — it takes a broad, omnivorous diet of both plant and animal foods.
Does the Dolphin Gull migrate?
The Dolphin Gull is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.
Is the Dolphin Gull endangered?
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
What sound does the Dolphin Gull make?
1 real field recording of the Dolphin Gull — including its alarm call — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Dolphin Gull's range?
The Dolphin Gull has a mapped global range of about 472,000 km².
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
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