Adult Ring-billed Gull in non-breeding plumage.
Cornell's "All About Birds" site refers to the Ring-billed gull as a "familiar parking lot gull." While this is true, I also see Ring-billed Gulls along the shore. They are seen inland often and like fresh water. They are not usually found in the open ocean. I often see them at Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve . And parks like Huntington Central Park , Carr Park in Huntington Beach, and Mile Square Park. And of course I see them in the parking lot when I go to the market. They like large, open areas and are found--in addition to parking lots--in parks, fields, garbage dumps, and other large, open areas.
Adult Ring-billed Gull in non-breeding plumage. Gulls are challenging. I once took an informal class about gulls, but without keeping up, it is easy to get lost. One of the challenges in telling gulls apart is this: they can have up to four or more different plumages. One for juveniles, one for the first year, one for the second year and then breeding plumage, non-breeding plumage..... Well you get the idea. The problem is that they may look like totally different species to the untrained eye.
Adult Ring-billed Gull in non-breeding plumage.
An adult Ring-billed Gull in breeding plumage has yellow eyes, a yellow bill with a ring near the end, and yellow feet. Its head and chest are pure white. Adult non-breeding plumage is almost the same except the head is sprinkled with gray marks like the one above.
Immature Ring-billed Gull.
Ring-billed Gulls will eat lots of different things from animal to vegetable: fish, insects, earthworms, grubs, aquatic invertebrates, grain, plant material, carrion, small-sized rodents, and garbage.
Adult Ring-billed Gull in non-breeding plumage on the Bolsa Chica Bridge.
Adult Ring-billed Gull in non-breeding plumage on the Bolsa Chica Bridge.
Ring-billed Gulls nest in large colonies with other gulls. As adults, they tend to return to return to the same area where they hatched to breed. Usually, the nest is located on an island. Their nest is on the ground and filled with twigs and plant matter such as leaves and lichen and grass.
Adult Ring-billed Gull in non-breeding plumage on the Bolsa Chica Bridge.
The Ring-billed Gull is found as far north as southern Alaska.
Ring-billed Gull at Carr Park in Huntington Beach.
Ring-billed Gull at Carr Park in Huntington Beach.
Adult Ring-billed Gull in non-breeding plumage on the Bolsa Chica Bridge.
They are abundant and have easily adjusted to living near humans.
So the next time you are out birding in Orange County--or even going to the store--look carefully and you may see lots of Ring-billed Gulls in your neighborhood.
External Links and Resources
Very good article. Make sure you look at both tabs.
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Adult Ring-billed Gull in non-breeding plumage.An adult Ring-billed Gull in breeding plumage has yellow eyes, a yellow bill with a ring near the end, and yellow feet. Its head and chest are pure white. Adult non-breeding plumage is almost the same except the head is sprinkled with gray marks like the one above.
Immature Ring-billed Gull.Ring-billed Gulls will eat lots of different things from animal to vegetable: fish, insects, earthworms, grubs, aquatic invertebrates, grain, plant material, carrion, small-sized rodents, and garbage.
Adult Ring-billed Gull in non-breeding plumage on the Bolsa Chica Bridge.
Adult Ring-billed Gull in non-breeding plumage on the Bolsa Chica Bridge.Ring-billed Gulls nest in large colonies with other gulls. As adults, they tend to return to return to the same area where they hatched to breed. Usually, the nest is located on an island. Their nest is on the ground and filled with twigs and plant matter such as leaves and lichen and grass.
Adult Ring-billed Gull in non-breeding plumage on the Bolsa Chica Bridge.The Ring-billed Gull is found as far north as southern Alaska.
Ring-billed Gull at Carr Park in Huntington Beach.And as far south as Mexico.
Ring-billed Gull at Carr Park in Huntington Beach.They are not above taking a handout in the park.
Adult Ring-billed Gull in non-breeding plumage on the Bolsa Chica Bridge.
They are abundant and have easily adjusted to living near humans.
So the next time you are out birding in Orange County--or even going to the store--look carefully and you may see lots of Ring-billed Gulls in your neighborhood.
External Links and Resources
Detailed article about the Ring-billed Gull.
Very thorough article.
Very good article. Make sure you look at both tabs.
Good information.
From Seattle Audubon.
Good, high quality video of Ring-billed Gulls.
Good Article.
National Audubon Society
Good article on telling the difference between adults and younger birds.
Short article about the Ring-billed Gull.
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