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Henry Sowell

Vol. I · Est. 2026

Pl. CXIX
Field-journal plate: Ring-billed Gull
The Ring-billed Gull plate as rendered on the e-ink frame
As rendered on the frame

The Birds · Plate CXIX

Ring-billed Gull

Larus delawarensis

Laridae · Taxon 4364

Length43–54 cm (16.9–21.3 in)
Wingspan105–117 cm (41.3–46.1 in)
Weight300–700 g (10.6–24.7 oz)

Field marks

  1. Short yellow bill encircled by a narrow black ring
  2. White head, neck, underparts, and tail in adults
  3. Pale silver-gray back and upperwings
  4. Black wingtips marked with small white spots
  5. Pale eye and yellow to yellow-green legs
  6. Long, slender wings extending beyond the square-tipped tail when perched

HabitatFreshwater lakes, ponds, rivers, reservoirs, estuaries, beaches, mudflats, and other open shorelines; also common in agricultural, suburban, and urban open spaces.

BehaviorA social, opportunistic omnivore that forages on foot, while swimming, and in flight; it scavenges, snatches food from the water or air, and nests colonially on the ground.

Palette

clean whitepale silver-grayblackbill-and-leg yellowmuted tan-brown