Ring-billed Gull
Larus delawarensis
Larus delawarensis 4
A medium-sized (19 inches) seagull, the Ring-billed Gull is most easily identified by its pale orange eye, yellow legs, and conspicuous black ring on its yellow bill. Winter and immature gulls of many species are notoriously difficult to identify as these birds may be splotched or streaked with brown on the head and breast. Male and female Ring-billed Gulls are similar to one another in all seasons. The Ring-billed Gull breeds across a large part of southern Canada and the northern United States. Most populations of this species are migratory, wintering along the coasts from British Columbia south to central Mexico in the west, from New England south to Florida in the east, in parts of the interior southeast, and around Great Salt Lake in Utah. Ring-billed Gulls occur throughout the year in parts of the Pacific Northwest and the Great Lakes. Ring-billed Gulls primarily breed on small sparsely-vegetated islands in northern lakes. In winter, this species is often present along sandy beaches, but may also be found inland on reservoirs or around garbage dumps. Ring-billed Gulls eat a variety of foods, including crustaceans, fish, carrion, garbage, and, occasionally, other birds. Ring-billed Gulls are most easily seen foraging for food along sandy beaches. In many coastal areas, this is one of the most common winter “seagulls,” and may be seen foraging for refuse and carrion on the beach, flying over the water and plunging in to catch fish, or floating on the water’s surface while catching fish with its bill. Ring-billed Gulls are primarily active during the day.
Conservation status 5
Ring-billed Gull populations are not threatened. Population sizes may have increased in recent historical times because ring-billed gulls benefit from human activities, such as landfills and fishing practices.
They are protected under the U.S. Migratory Bird Treaty Act as migratory birds.
US Migratory Bird Act: protected
US Federal List: no special status
CITES: no special status
State of Michigan List: no special status
IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: least concern
Habitat 6
Ring-billed gulls are often found along inland waterways and in open landscapes. They typically occur on beaches, open grasslands, and wet meadows. Their preference for open areas makes them well-suited to urban and suburban landscapes and they are often found on large, grassy lawns, parking lots, and in vacant land.
Habitat Regions: temperate ; saltwater or marine ; freshwater
Terrestrial Biomes: desert or dune
Aquatic Biomes: lakes and ponds; rivers and streams; coastal
Other Habitat Features: urban ; suburban
Sources and Credits
- (c) Gary Ashley, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), http://www.flickr.com/photos/22553111@N07/2255619597
- (c) Kevin Rolle, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-SA), http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3584/3354806891_d895554ef3.jpg
- (c) Katja Schulz, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2732/4339626840_d89cc56993.jpg
- Adapted by Natalie LaScala from a work by (c) Smithsonian Institution, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-SA), http://eol.org/data_objects/34818340
- (c) The Regents of the University of Michigan and its licensors, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-SA), http://eol.org/data_objects/31400773
- (c) The Regents of the University of Michigan and its licensors, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-SA), http://eol.org/data_objects/25065213
