About Leucophaeus scoresbii (Traill, 1823)
The dolphin gull, scientifically named Leucophaeus scoresbii, is sometimes mistakenly called the red-billed gull – a name that refers to a different, unrelated species from New Zealand. This gull is native to southern Chile, Argentina, and the Falkland Islands. It is a coastal bird that lives on rocky, muddy, and sandy shores, and is often seen near seabird colonies. Its body feathers are greyish, while the feathers on its wings are a darker grey. Dolphin gulls have a varied diet, feeding on a wide range of items from mussels to carrion. Both its current scientific name Leucophaeus scoresbii and its outdated common name Scoresby's gull honor the English explorer William Scoresby, who lived from 1789 to 1857. The species occurs along the coasts of Chile, Argentina, and the Falkland Islands. It is a vagrant in South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands. It can be found on rocky coasts, as well as in areas near other seabird colonies, slaughterhouses, sewage outflows, and farmyards.
