Ring-billed Gull (Larus delawarensis)

It takes this small dapper North American species only three years to achieve adult plumage. This is a first cycle bird which already has a pale mantle contrasting with brown wing coverts, a pattern typical of second cycle larger gulls. Note the band of pale gray on the outer wing coverts and the fine gray streaking on the crown typical of this species in non-breeding plumage. This species is unaccountably scarce on our local beaches but abundant in the interior.