Bird of Interest: Ring-billed Gull
01 // Bird of Interest
Ring-billed Gull
Larus delawarensis
Photo: User:Mdf / CC BY-SA 3.0
Bird ID
This week's Bird of Interest is the ring-billed gull, a medium-sized species native to North America with signatures that include breeding in Canada and the northern Contiguous United States, while wintering mainly in the United States and northern Mexico. The specific designation, delawarensis, points to the Delaware River, while the genus name Larus is derived from Latin, referencing a gull or other large seabird.
Visual signatures
- Medium size with a wingspan ranging from 105 to 117 centimetres.
- White head, neck, and underparts contrasting with a silver-grey back and wings.
- Yellow legs and a relatively short yellow bill marked with a black ring.
Acoustic signatures
Collection gap — use the audio links below.
Listen: xeno-canto · eBird species page
Pattern of life
- Habitat: Found near lakes, rivers, or the coast, with nesting sites also increasingly utilizing flat factory roofs.
- Diet: Omnivorous, utilizing a wide range of sources including insects, fish, rodents, and discarded food.
- Behavior: Highly opportunistic, congregating in large numbers at docks, marinas, and parks where human food is available.
- Migration: Migratory, moving south toward the Gulf of Mexico and the US and Mexican coasts.
F2T — where it's been reported (Clark County, last 30 days)
- Lake Mead NRA--Cottonwood Cove Resort & Marina — last reported 06 Oct
- Lake Mead NRA--Hemenway Harbor — last reported 04 Oct
- Lake Mead NRA--Stewarts Point — last reported 03 Oct
- Lake Mead NRA--33 Hole Overlook — last reported 01 Oct
- Henderson Bird Viewing Preserve — last reported 21 Sep
02 // Bird Order of Battle
195 species reported across Clark County in the last 7 days. Notable sightings (rare or out of season) flagged by eBird:
| Bird | Location | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Yellow-bellied Sapsucker | Floyd Lamb Park at Tule Springs | 08 Oct |
| Northern Parula | Floyd Lamb Park at Tule Springs | 08 Oct |
| Bay-breasted Warbler | Floyd Lamb Park at Tule Springs | 08 Oct |
| Yellow-breasted Chat | Desert NWR--Corn Creek (Field Station) | 08 Oct |
| Purple Finch | Desert NWR--Corn Creek (Field Station) | 08 Oct |
| Black-and-white Warbler | Las Vegas Urban--Sunset Park | 07 Oct |
| Rose-breasted Grosbeak | Desert NWR--Corn Creek (Field Station) | 07 Oct |
| Olive-sided Flycatcher | Floyd Lamb Park at Tule Springs | 07 Oct |
Source: eBird.org
03 // Migration Estimate
Fall migration continues to reshape the local pattern of life. Golden-crowned Sparrow reports mark the first winter visitors arriving, while Marbled Godwit sightings show passage migrants still moving through. Summer breeders such as the Blue Grosbeak, Ash-throated Flycatcher, and the area's hummingbirds have largely cleared out.
Indicators — arrivals
- Golden-crowned Sparrow
- Marbled Godwit
Indicators — departures
- Ash-throated Flycatcher
- Blue Grosbeak
- Broad-tailed Hummingbird
- Calliope Hummingbird
04 // NAI of the Week
Clark County Wetlands Park
This area offers excellent pattern of life signatures across wetlands, ponds, and trails along the Las Vegas Wash, with a nature center at the main entrance. Focus your Bird ID efforts on the recent activity, which includes Cinnamon Teal, Red-tailed Hawk, and Marsh Wren. Prepare for a solid F2T effort across the varied habitat.
122 species reported here in the last 14 days, including:
- Black Phoebe
- Cinnamon Teal
- Common Merganser
- European Starling
- Marsh Wren
- Red-shouldered Hawk
- Red-tailed Hawk
- Savannah Sparrow
05 // Bird VR
Make the call. Answer in next week's BINTSUM.
Photo: Chuck Homler, Focus On Wildlife / CC BY-SA 4.0
- A. Yellow-headed Blackbird
- B. American Redstart
- C. Lesser Nighthawk
Last week's answer: Cinnamon Teal
06 // TTP of the Week
Shape before color
Light and distance wash out color, but size and silhouette hold up. Compare every unknown to a reference bird you know cold: sparrow, robin, pigeon, or crow. That alone narrows the field fast.
Sighting data provided by eBird.org. Bird facts adapted from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0); photos from Wikimedia Commons, credited under each image. Written by a local AI model, so double-check anything that matters.
Bird of Interest
Ring-billed Gull
Larus delawarensis
Positive Bird ID- Medium-sized gull with a wingspan of 105 to 117 centimetres.
- Adults have a white head, neck, and underparts and a silver-grey back and wings.
- Yellow legs and a relatively short yellow bill with a black ring near the tip.