Ring-billed Gulls
Several Ring-billed Gulls (Larus delawarensis) spotted during a photowalk through Huntley Meadows Park, Fairfax County, Virginia USA. According to All About Birds, The Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Ring-billed Gulls ...
are the gulls you're most likely to see far away from coastal areas—in fact, most Ring-billed Gulls nest in the interior of the continent, near freshwater. A black band encircling the yellow bill helps distinguish adults from other gulls—but look closely, as some other species have black or red spots on the bill.
Don't be fooled by the difference in appearance among these three birds: the individual shown in Photo 1 of 3 is a mature adult; the birds shown in Photo 2 and 3 are immature juveniles. Adults have yellow and black eyes and a yellow beak with a black ring around it; juveniles have black eyes and a pink beak with a black ring.
Copyright © 2012 Walter Sanford. All rights reserved. www.wsanford.com
