Gulls, Terns, and Skimmers

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Gulls, Terns, and Skimmers are accomplished fliers and because they have webbed feet they are also very comfortable in the water. The species in this family vary in size but in almost all species, their underparts are white and their upperparts are gray or black with a white head or with a dark mask or hood.

 

Ring-billed Gull walking along the Shenandoah River.
NPS Photo/J. Chapman

Ring-billed Gull (Larus delawarensis)

• When migrating Ring-billed Gulls use a built-in compass to navigate. They have a preference for distinct magnetic bearings that will guide them in the correct direction for fall migration.
• Though we usually expect to see gulls at the beach, Ring-billed Gulls are more commonly seen inland (further away from the ocean) than other gulls
• Ring-billed Gulls love to eat fish, insects, earthworms, rodents, grain, and garbage
• Adult gulls play by dropping objects while flying and then swooping to catch them. This may be done to improve their hunting moves.
• Ring-billed Gulls are strong and graceful flyers and can fly at 40 miles per hour.

Identification Information:

• Size: Crow sized (Medium)
• Color: Adult Ring-billed Gulls have gray on the top of their feathers with a white head, white underside, and white tail. They have black tips on their wings white faint white spots. The gulls have yellow legs and a yellow bill with a black band around the bill. The black band around the gill is what distinguishes this gull from other gull species.

 

All of the above information is an abbreviated version of information gathered from the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. Please visit their website for more in-depth bird information.

 

Birds

Waterbirds

Sandpipers

Plovers and Lapwings