Lava Gull
Lava GullLava GullLava GullLava Gull

Lava Gull

Leucophaeus fuliginosus

Endemic
40–50% · Likely
overall probability at Galápagos Islands
3,066 Verified records at Galápagos Islands
July Best month highest sighting rate
☀️ Diurnal When it's active during daytime hours (6am–6pm)

The lava gull (Leucophaeus fuliginosus), also known as the dusky gull, is a medium-sized gull and a member of the "hooded gull" group. It is most closely related to the Laughing gull and Franklin's gull and is the rarest gull in the world. It is endemic to the Galapagos Islands. Wikipedia →

40–50% of wildlife watchers report a Lava Gull sighting in Galápagos Islands, based on 3,066 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

Closest Relatives at Galápagos Islands

Franklin's Gull
LC

Franklin's Gull

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Leucophaeus pipixcan

5–10% · With luck
Laughing Gull
LC

Laughing Gull

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Leucophaeus atricilla

<5% · Rare
Grey Gull

Grey Gull

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Leucophaeus modestus

<5% · Rare
Brown Noddy
LC

Brown Noddy

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Anous stolidus

60–70% · Likely
Swallow-tailed Gull
LC

Swallow-tailed Gull

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Creagrus furcatus

40–50% · Possible
Black Skimmer
LC

Black Skimmer

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Rynchops niger

Insufficient data
Royal Tern

Royal Tern

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Thalasseus maximus

<5% · Rare
Dominican Gull
LC

Dominican Gull

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Larus dominicanus

<5% · Rare
Sooty Tern

Sooty Tern

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Onychoprion fuscatus

<5% · Rare
Arctic Tern
LC

Arctic Tern

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Sterna paradisaea

<5% · Rare
Common Tern
LC

Common Tern

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Sterna hirundo

<5% · Rare
Elegant Tern
NT

Elegant Tern

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Thalasseus elegans

<5% · Rare

📅 Monthly Probability

30–40
Jan
30–40
Feb
40–50
Mar
40–50
Apr
40–50
May
40–50
Jun
50–60
Jul
40–50
Aug
30–40
Sep
30–40
Oct
40–50
Nov
40–50
Dec

☀️ When They're Spotted

Most active during daytime hours (6am–6pm) · across all parks (global)

☀️Diurnal
☀️🌙🌙12am6am12pm6pm12am

Global Distribution

Where this species is recorded worldwide. Restricted to human observations from 2019 onwards — the same kind of record and the same period the probabilities on this page are built from, so collar-tracking studies, camera-trap arrays and museum specimens are excluded. Around Santa Rosa that removes 5,924 GPS fixes from a handful of tagged jaguars.

where this species is recorded (GBIF density — it tracks where observers go, not how likely a sighting is)  ·  parks where it occurs — tap a pin for the sighting probability there

Parks Where Found

# Park Country Probability
1 Galápagos Islands 🇪🇨 Ecuador
40–50%

More parks will be added in future updates.

Quick answers

What are the chances of seeing a Lava Gull in Galápagos Islands?

About 42% of wildlife watchers report a Lava Gull sighting in Galápagos Islands, based on 3,066 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

When is the best time to see Lava Gull in Galápagos Islands?

July has the highest sighting rate for Lava Gull in Galápagos Islands in our monthly data.

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