Ring-billed gull
| Ring-billed gull | |
|---|---|
| |
| Adult breeding | |
| |
| Non-breeding adult in Ohio | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | |
| Phylum: | |
| Class: | |
| Order: | |
| Family: | |
| Genus: | |
| Species: | L. delawarensis
|
| Binomial name | |
| Larus delawarensis Ord, 1815
| |
The ring-billed gull (Larus delawarensis) is a medium-sized gull. The genus name is from Latin Larus which appears to have referred to a gull or other large seabird. The specific delawarensis refers to the Delaware River.[2]
Description
,_Windsor,_Ontario,_2014-12-07.jpg)
Adults are 49 cm (19 in) length and have a 124 cm (49 in) wingspan. The head, neck and underparts are white; the relatively short bill is yellow with a dark ring; the back and wings are silver gray; and the legs are yellow. The eyes are yellow with red rims. This gull takes three years to reach its breeding plumage; its appearance changes with each fall moult.
Distribution and habitat
The ring-billed gulls' breeding habitat is near lakes, rivers, or the coast in Canada and the northern United States. They nest colonially on the ground, often on islands. This bird tends to be faithful to its nesting site, if not its mate, from year to year.
The ring-billed gull is a familiar sight in the shopping mall parking lots of the United States, where it can regularly be found congregating in large numbers.[3][4] In some areas, it is displacing less aggressive birds such as the common tern.
They are migratory and most move south to the Gulf of Mexico and the Atlantic and Pacific coasts of North America, also the Great Lakes.
This gull is a regular wanderer to western Europe. In Ireland and Great Britain it is no longer classed as a rarity, with several birds regularly wintering in these countries.
Diet
Ring-billed gulls forage in flight or pick up objects while swimming, walking or wading. They also steal food from other birds and frequently scavenge. They are omnivorous; their diet may include insects, fish, grain, eggs, earthworms and rodents. These birds are opportunistic and have adapted well to taking food discarded or even left unattended by people. It is regarded as a pest by many beach-goers because of its willingness to steal unguarded food on highly crowded beaches. The gull's natural enemies are rats, foxes, dogs, cats, raccoons, coyotes, eagles, hawks, and owls.
Status
In the late 19th century, the ring-billed gull was hunted for its plumage. Its population has since rebounded and it is probably the most common gull in North America.
References
- ^ Butchart, S.; Symes, A. (2012). "Larus delawarensis". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2012. IUCN: e.T22694317A38869005. Retrieved 1 May 2016.
- ^ Jobling, James A (2010). The Helm Dictionary of Scientific Bird Names. London: Christopher Helm. pp. 132, 219. ISBN 978-1-4081-2501-4.
- ^ "Ring-billed Gull". Common Birds of New England. Retrieved 16 March 2014.
- ^ Ray, C. Claiborne. "Why do Sea Gulls Like Parking Lots?". New York Times. Retrieved 16 March 2014.
External links
- Ring-billed Gull at Université du Québec à Montréal (UQAM)'s Research and banding program
- BirdLife species factsheet for Larus delawarensis
- "Larus delawarensis". Avibase.
- "Ring-billed gull media". Internet Bird Collection.
- Ring-billed gull photo gallery at VIREO (Drexel University)
- Interactive range map of Larus delawarensis at IUCN Red List maps
- Ring-billed gull Species Account – Cornell Lab of Ornithology
- Ring-billed gull - Larus delawarensis - USGS Patuxent Bird Identification InfoCenter
- Audio recordings of Ring-billed gull on Xeno-canto.
- Larus delawarensis in Field Guide: Birds of the World on Flickr
- Video - Ring-billed gull at Niagara Falls
