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Ring-billed Gull

Status Common transient, uncommon in winter, rare in summer. It was considered rare to uncommon in the nineteenth century but has become regular in recent years. The peak of spring migration occurs during the second half of April and the first week in May. Birds are occasionally seen in June and a few probably spend the summer in the province. Thirty were seen at Argyle Head, Yarmouth County, on 26 July 1983, but first fall migrants generally appear at the beginning of August and the main movement takes place between September and early November. It is regular in small numbers during winter, especially where mudflats continue to be exposed and around sewer outlets in towns and cities.

Description Length: 46-51 cm. Adults in summer: Pearly gray mantle over back and wings; outer primaries black with white spots on outer two, others tipped with white; rest of plumage pure white; bill yellow with black ring or band near end; legs and feet greenish yellow. Adults in winter: Similar to those in summer but head and neck streaked with grayish brown. Immatures: Mottled dark brown and gray, becoming lighter with age; tail marked with wide black band near end, with some mottling on the white parts.

Range Breeds locally: east of the Rockies, across southern Canada and the northern states; in eastern North America from Northern Ontario, central Quebec, northeastern Newfoundland and southeastern Labrador, south to the Great Lakes and northern New Brunswick. Winters from Nova Scotia, the lower Great Lakes and (rarely) the Gulf of St. Lawrence, south to Florida and Cuba.

Remarks This bird closely resembles the Herring Gull in general habits and appearance and could readily be mistaken for it, but it is considerably smaller. If at close range, the observer will note that the adults of this bird have greenish yellow legs unlike those of the Herring Gull, which are flesh-coloured; and the band or "ring" on The bill of adult birds will also be seen. At a distant range, the greater black on the outer primaries is a good field mark. Immatures of the two species are similar, but this bird is smaller, has a more buoyant flight, and has a black band on the end of its tail.