Ring-billed Gulls are in the order Charadriiformes which consists of other shorebirds. The family Laridae groups them together with other gulls. Ring-billed Gulls are a fairly common species of gull. They are 17.5 inches (45 cm) in size with a 48 inch (122cm) wingspan. This larger wingspan allows for their superb flight abilities.  They are monochromatic which means that males and females are similar in appearance. During the breeding season, adults have a bright yellow bill with a complete black ring around it and also yellow legs. Their neck, breast and belly are white and they have a gray mantle and upperwings. Their primary feathers are black and have white tips. During the winter season, they have thin dark streaks around their head. Ring-billed Gulls are similar to Herring Gulls, but smaller in size. Ring-billed Gulls take 3 years to reach full maturity. Juveniles have a black bill that have a pale base. Their head, breast, belly and back are pale with light brown scalloping. They have dark outer primaries and dark upperwing coverts with white edging. First-year Ring-billed Gulls have a pink bill with a black tip and pink legs. Their head, neck and upper breast are white streaked with brown. Their primary feathers are black and their secondary feathers are pale-gray. The second-years look like adults during the winter season. Many times, their bill is yellow with a black tip, their primary feathers are dark and they have a partial dark band on their tail.

Photo: M. Noonan