Ring-billed Gull

The Ring-billed Gull is a medium-sized, familiar gull with a clean white body, pale gray back, black-tipped wings with white spots, and a distinctive dark ring around its yellow bill. This particular contour feather exhibits the typical soft grey and white tones of the body plumage with a warm brownish tip characteristic of non-breeding or juvenile coloration, or sun-bleached older wear.

Pale greyish-white base with a distinct warm brownish-tan or buff tip, showing signs of sun bleaching and wear

Pennaceous at the upper distal portion with tightly interlocked barbules, transitioning sharply into a fluffy plumulaceous (downy) structure at the base

Smooth and firm at the upper vane tip, transitioning to soft and fluffy at the base where the plumulaceous barbs are unhooked

Soft greyish body feather with a distinct rounded tip, pale rachis, and a fluffy downy base typical of large gulls

Found near coastships, lakes, rivers, agricultural fields, and urban areas such as parking lots and landfills

Widespread across North America, breeding in the northern US and Canada, and wintering along southern coasts, Central America, and the Caribbean

Acts as an important scavenger and opportunistic predator in aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems, helping clean up organic waste

Herring Gull and California Gull, though feathers from larger gulls are generally larger and darker gray

Ring-billed Gulls are highly adaptable generalist feeders and are frequently seen scavenging in fast-food parking lots, earning them the nickname 'fast-food gulls'

Good condition overall with minor fraying at the tip and some weathering/discoloration