Ring-Billed Gull

Description:

This is the common and familiar “sea­gull” across much of North America—from coastal beaches to malls in the middle of the continent—yet it is rarely seen offshore.

Habitat:

Midlatitude North America, winters to Middle America. Breeding: common and usually colonial, on low, sparsely vegetated islands in lakes. Arrives late March–May, departs July–August Dispersal: postbreeding dispersal begins by late June, with juveniles recorded by mid-July as far south as Salton Sea, California. Casual north to central Alaska, accidental Arctic coast of Alaska. Migration: nearly throughout North America where common to abundant in many regions. Mainly August–October. and March–mid-May. Oversummering nonbreeders regular along Pacific, Atlantic, and Gulf coasts, local elsewhere. Winter: Main arrival in most of United States September–October, with most departing February–April. Rarely north to Newfoundland, casually to south-coastal Alaska. Vagrant: casual Europe, West Africa, Hawaii; accidental to Amazonian Brazil.