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Ring-billed Gull
Primary flight feather, likely outer primary (P9 or P10)

Ring-billed Gull

Kingdom: Animalia, Phylum: Chordata, Class: Aves, Order: Charadriiformes, Family: Laridae, Genus: Larus, Species: Larus delawarensis

Family: Laridae (Gulls, Terns, and Skimmers)

Shape
Symmetrical to slightly asymmetrical vane with a rounded tip, elongated outline, and characteristic black subterminal band with a white tip (mirror).
Size
Approximately 5 to 7 inches long, consistent with a medium-sized gull primary flight feather.
Rarity
Very Common
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Description

The Ring-billed Gull is a medium-sized, intelligent seabird characterized by its crisp gray back, white underparts, yellow legs, and a sharp yellow bill marked with a distinct black ring. Known for their adaptability, they are a familiar sight inland as well as along coastal regions, often congregating in large, vocal flocks.

Colour & Pattern

Distinctive white tip followed by a prominent black subterminal band, grading into soft pearl-gray towards the base, with a white fluffy downy tuft at the calamus.

Barb Structure

Tightly interlocked pennaceous structure along the vane with a plumulaceous base; barbs are intact and well-developed with standard hooklets.

Texture & Surface

Smooth, slightly glossy pennaceous surface on the vanes, shifting to soft and fluffy at the base.

Key Features

White feather tip, bold black subterminal band, and clean gray base, diagnostic of adult medium-sized gull outer primaries.

Habitat

Found near coastlines, lakes, rivers, agricultural fields, and urban areas such as parking lots and garbage dumps.

Geographic Range

Widespread across North America, breeding in the northern US and Canada, and wintering south to the Gulf of Mexico, Central America, and the Caribbean.

Ecological Role

Acts as an opportunistic scavenger and predator, helping to clean up organic waste while serving as an important link in aquatic and terrestrial food webs.

Similar Species

Herring Gull (larger with more extensive white spots on darker black wingtips) and California Gull.

Interesting Facts

Ring-billed Gulls are highly adaptable urban foragers and can often be found congregated in large numbers in fast-food parking lots, expertly scavenging dropped french fries.

Condition Notes

Good condition, clean structure with minor wear at the very edge of the tip.

Ring-billed Gull | Feather Identifier