Larus delawarensis
Copyright, Douglas Triggs
Ring-billed Gulls are the
most common gulls seen in Northern Virginia, and are most
often seen in the winter. Adult Ring-billed Gulls
grow to about 20 inches long. They have a silvery-gray back,
with a white head, belly, and tail. The tips of their wings
are black. Feet and legs are yellow. Immature (young) gulls
look quite different. They are brownish-white and have pink
legs. Adults and young all have
a black ring around their bills. Copyright, Robert Benson,
Center for Bioacoustics, Texas A&M University - Corpus
Christi
Copyright, Peter
Wallack When winter comes to our
area, Ring-billed Gulls gather in large groups on
rivers,
lakes,
ponds,
and marshes.
They also gather at dumps, landfills, and parking
lots. Ring-billed Gulls are
very alert and are always on the lookout for food. When food
is found by one gull, others quickly approach. Ring-billed
Gulls have a loud, raucous cry and often fuss at each
other. Gulls also
compete
for food with other scavengers, including crows, eagles, and
starlings. Ring-billed Gulls eat a
wide variety of foods, including: fish, snails, mussels,
earthworms, beetles, grasshoppers, crickets, other
insects,
amphibians,
small rodents,
ducklings, and bird eggs.
These gulls also eat a lot of human foods thrown out as
garbage, especially breads. Ring-billed Gulls will
occasionally eat roadkill. Copyright, Stephen J.
Davies
