Ring-billed Gull

Additional Bird Information Gulls Shorebirds Types of Birds

Yellow legs and a black ring around a yellow bill distinguish the Ring-billed Gull (Larus delawarensis) from other Larus species.

It's one of the more common gulls in the United States, wintering in the southern part of the United States from coast to coast. During breeding season, large flocks migrate to the northern tier of the United States and Southern Canada. The name delawarensis stands for the place the species was first recorded, the Delaware River.

Ring-billed gulls serve to remind us that sometimes the term sea gull is a misplaced description of the genus. Many individuals spend the majority of their summer and winter lives far away from salt water habitats.

© 2009 Patricia A. Michaels