Ring-Billed Gull
Larus delawarensis

Ring-billed Gull, Larus delawarensisThis is a typical view of a ring-billed gull from my yard, they rarely land here.  Though when my neighbor used to scattered bread on his lawn the gulls would fight with the crows for it.  Although they are commonly called sea gulls, they spend the summer at inland lakes and wet lands.








Ring-billed Gull, Larus delawarensisNotice the black ring around the bill, which gives the bird its name.  The yellow legs also help to identify this species.  During the winter the ring-billed gulls spend the night at the beach, mixed with other gulls, and commute inland for the day.








Ring-billed Gull, Larus delawarensisBeing scavengers, the gulls collect near school lunch areas, fast food places, landfills, anywhere people are likely to drop garbage around.  In the evening, for the commute back to the beaches, they frequently for form a large swirling flock, an animated vortex drifting toward the surf.








Ring-billed Gull, Larus delawarensisPart of the difficulty in identifying species of gulls is the different plumages for different ages.  In their first summer the young are dark brownish.  The top gull in this picture is in its first winter.  The lower gull is in its third or latter winter.








Ring-billed Gull, Larus delawarensisHere is the second winter plumage, like adult but with the black tail band.










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