Photo: Rhododendrites / CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Ring-billed Gull
Larus delawarensis
Ring-billed Gull (Larus delawarensis) — Shorebirds, Gulls & Auks of North America.
Found across 20 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Ring-billed Gull (Larus delawarensis) is a member of the Laridae family found in North America. Adults weigh 516 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Least Concern.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Widespread and abundant — not currently at risk.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Charadriiformes
- Family Laridae Gulls, Terns, Skimmers
- Genus Larus
- Species delawarensis
Where it lives
Inland eastern British Columbia to southern Northwest Territories, southern James Bay to Labrador and Newfoundland (central, southern Canada), Pacific Northwest states and Great Lakes (northern contiguous USA)
Quick facts
- Weight
- 516 g
- Diet
- Omnivores
- Family
- Laridae
- Order
- Charadriiformes
- Habitat
- Wetland, lake & coast
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Not Evaluated
Vulnerable
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Ring-billed Gull is a omnivore — it takes a broad, omnivorous diet of both plant and animal foods.
Behaviour
A bird of coastal habitats, it forages mainly on the ground.
Migration
The Ring-billed Gull is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.
The Ring-billed Gull (Larus delawarensis) is a species of bird in the Laridae family, part of the order Charadriiformes. It is found across North America. Its distribution covers NA inland e British Columbia to s Northwest Territories, s James Bay to Labrador and Newfoundland (c, s Canada), Pacific Northwest states and Great Lakes (n contiguous USA).
It is a large bird. Adults weighs around 516 g, with a wing length of about 36.6 cm and a tail of around 13.3 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
Its mapped global range covers an estimated 5.4 million km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Ring-billed Gull?
The Ring-billed Gull is a large bird that weighs around 516 g.
Where does the Ring-billed Gull live?
The Ring-billed Gull is found across North America with a range covering NA inland e British Columbia to s Northwest Territories, s James Bay to Labrador and Newfoundland (c, s Canada), Pacific Northwest states and Great Lakes (n contiguous USA), where it is associated with wetlands, lakes and other open water.
What family does the Ring-billed Gull belong to?
The Ring-billed Gull (Larus delawarensis) belongs to the Laridae family, in the order Charadriiformes.
What does the Ring-billed Gull eat?
The Ring-billed Gull is a omnivore — it takes a broad, omnivorous diet of both plant and animal foods.
Does the Ring-billed Gull migrate?
The Ring-billed Gull is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.
Is the Ring-billed Gull endangered?
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
What sound does the Ring-billed Gull make?
1 real field recording of the Ring-billed Gull — including its call — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Ring-billed Gull's range?
The Ring-billed Gull has a mapped global range of about 5.4 million km².
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
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Guides for this bird
European Herring Gull vs Ring-billed Gull: How to Tell Them Apart
How to tell a European Herring Gull from a Ring-billed Gull — size, range, family and status compared side by side, with links to each bird’s full ID guide.