Ring-Billed Gull - (Larus delawarensis)

This gull, which breeds and nests in Canada, is a winter visitor to the Imperial Valley, where it can be seen feeding at local freshwater lakes, the Salton Sea, farm fields, parking lots, and the local garbage dump. Large flocks of these gulls traverse the skies over the Valley during the winter months; flying in from the Gulf of California their arrival marks the beginning of Winter for many Valley residents. Hungry upon their arrival, they hover clumsily as they attack un-harvested Date Palm trees for its sugary fruit. Compare with other local gulls, the California Gull, the Herring Gull, and Yellow-Footed Gull.

If you are interested in learning more about this bird online - I recommend you start with the Patuxent Bird Identification InfoCenter, Patuxent Wildlife Research Center, Laurel, MD. http://www.mbr-pwrc.usgs.gov/Infocenter/infocenter.html

They present photographs, songs, identification tips, maps, and life history information for North American birds - including the Ring-Billed Gull

OTHER OUTSIDE LINKS FOR THIS BIRD:

Life History - Very informative Web page by the Canadian Wildlife Service "Hinterland Who's Who." It has many facts about the Ringed-Bill Gull.

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This site is maintained by:

Eldon R. Caldwell
Imperial Valley College
Email: eldon.caldwell@imperial.edu