Olrog's Gull
EN

Olrog's Gull

Larus atlanticus

Unknown

Photo: Wikimedia Commons (CC) via https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Olrog's_gull

Overview

A detailed profile for this species is sourced from the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species as assessments become available.

Olrog's Gull faces severe pressure from coastal development and human disturbance at its limited breeding colonies along the Atlantic coast of Argentina and southern Brazil. The species' highly restricted breeding range makes it extremely vulnerable to habitat loss, with key nesting sites threatened by urban expansion, tourism infrastructure, and recreational activities. Climate change poses additional risks through sea-level rise and altered coastal dynamics that could eliminate critical nesting beaches and foraging areas.

Threat summary

Habitat

Olrog's Gull inhabits coastal environments along the southwestern Atlantic, breeding on sandy beaches, dunes, and low coastal islands. Outside the breeding season, it forages in shallow marine waters, estuaries, and coastal lagoons, often following fishing vessels and feeding on small fish, crustaceans, and marine invertebrates.

MARINE· majorTERRESTRIAL· major

Other threatened species in Laridae

Greater Black-backed GullVU

Greater Black-backed Gull

Larus marinus

Unknown
Scandinavian Lesser Black-backed GullVU

Scandinavian Lesser Black-backed Gull

Larus fuscus

Unknown
Caspian TernCR

Caspian Tern

Hydroprogne caspia

Unknown
Little GullCR

Little Gull

Hydrocoloeus minutus

Unknown

Frequently asked questions

Why is Olrog's Gull classified as Endangered?
Olrog's Gull is classified as Endangered — facing a very high risk of extinction in the wild — because population numbers are declining steeply and key habitats are under sustained pressure. Olrog's Gull faces severe pressure from coastal development and human disturbance at its limited breeding colonies along the Atlantic coast of Argentina and southern Brazil. The species' highly restricted breeding range makes it extremely vulnerable to habitat loss, with key nesting sites threatened by urban expansion, tourism infrastructure, and recreational activities. Climate change poses additional risks through sea-level rise and altered coastal dynamics that could eliminate critical nesting beaches and foraging areas.
Where does Olrog's Gull live?
Olrog's Gull occurs in across multiple regions. Country-level distribution data is sourced from the IUCN Red List and cross-referenced with GBIF occurrences.
What are the main threats to Olrog's Gull?
The main threats to Olrog's Gull are ai-1, ai-2, ai-3, and ai-4. The full IUCN-classified threat record for this species is detailed on the species page.

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