Ring-billed Gull

Utah Winter Gulls

by Dennis Shirley

     Ring-billed Gull (similar species)

Breeding Adult - black ring on yellow bill with yellow tip; pale eye
Photo by Marvis Collett ©Marvis Collett

Non-breeding Adult - streaking on neck (but not as much as Herring Gull)
by Jack Binch ©Jack Binch

1st Winter - Splotchy pale gray mantle, pink legs, pink bill with black tip
by Ted Fitzgerald ©Ted Fitzgerald

1st Winter Flying - Black terminal tail band, no white spots on wing tips,
indistinct carpal bar (at bend of wing)
by Kent Keller ©Kent R. Keller

2nd Winter - speckled or broken terminal band on tail, wingtips black with few white spots
by Margaret T. Sanchez ©Margaret T. Sanchez

Ring-billed Gull

Similar Species

1st Winter California - RBGU slightly smaller, shorter-billed. Adult RB paler gray on mantle, with whtie eyes, black bill ring. First-winter RB whiter below than same age Dal.; shows pale gray on back and tail with thinner, dark subterminal band. Third-winter Cal. may show distinct black ring on bill, but have darker mantle than Ring-billed and never have pale eyes.

1st Winter Mew - has a much finer bill, darker but less spotted under parts, less distinct wing and tail pattern

2nd Winter Mew - has a darker gray mantle and dark eyes.

Adult Mew Gull - has an unmarked bill.

Immature Herring Gull - is similar; Winter Ring-billed Gulls are far less streaked on the neck. Juveniles and first-winter Ring-billeds are paler overall than Herring Gulls especially on the head and underparts; these areas are white with varying amounts of black spotting on the hind neck; has a rounder head.

2nd year and adult Black-legged Kittiwake - may be somewhat similar.

1st winter Ring-billed - lighter below than California (notice gray on back)
Photo by Ted Fitzgerald ©Ted Fitzgerald

1st Winter Mew Gull - has a much finer bill, darker but less spotted under parts,
less distinct wing and tail pattern than a Ring-billed
Photo by Paul Higgins ©Paul Higgins

Juvenile Herring Gull - Juveniles and first-winter Herring Gulls are darker overall
especially on the head and underparts; these areas in the Ring-billed are whiter with varying
amounts of black spotting on the back of the neck; the Ring-billed Gull has a rounder head.
by Ryan Houston ©Ryan Houston