New Zealand’s 3 native gulls can be found all across the country in differing frequencies. These are the only native gulls that breed in New Zealand.
I am fortunate enough to live close to the beautiful beaches of Taranaki on the North Island. Any time that I go for a walk or run along the beach I see beautiful birds. There are Australasian Gannets, Shags, Kingfishers, and different kinds of gulls. There are lots of birds, but ones that always seem to stand out and make lots of noise are the gulls or seagulls. New Zealand is home to three different seagulls that are facing very different futures – one is super abundant and one is on a serious decline.
New Zealand’s 3 Native Gulls
Southern Black Backed Gull (Karoro)
The latin name for this gull is Larus Domincanus. This is far and away the most common native seagull in New Zealand. In fact, this bird is so abundant that it’s sometimes considered a nuisance. This gull holds the distinction of being one of the only native birds not protected under the law!
It can be found all over the country, from the coast to urban and rural areas.
This gull can be identified by its large size, black back, and yellow bill and legs/feet.
Red Billed Gull (Tarapunga)
The Red Billed Gull can be found all over the coasts, along rivers, and lakes. Sometimes it will mix with the black billed gulls in colonies.
This gull and the black billed gull are similar in size, but this one is slightly bigger and it has a different coloring. This one’s bill is red and it has red legs/feet. It also has a yellow eye with a red ring around it.
However, to make it a bit more challenging to identify, young birds have a dark bill and legs/feet. (Remember, all birds molt during their life in order to get new, healthy feathers or to change their coloring)
Black Billed Gull (Tarapuka)
This is the least common of the three native gulls and the only one that is endemic to New Zealand! They can be found along coasts, rivers, and lakes.
They breed along the wide, braided rivers of the South Island. Unfortunately, those unique braided rivers ecosystems are being changed and these gulls are losing their breeding grounds. Thus, these birds have the smallest population and are the most at risk.
As I said, this gull is the same size as the red billed gull. However, this one has a distinctive black bill. It also has a white eye with a black ring around it. Just to throw in some confusion in identifying it, young birds have a pinkish bill and legs/feet.