RING-BILLED GULLS, L.delawarensis

all photos courtesy of Mark Cassino, copyright 1998

This series of photographs were taken in early October at South Haven, Michigan

Fig. 1) All Ring-billed Gulls-- or are they? There are seven Herring smithsonianus mixed in: three on the left there; much bigger in size w/ pink legs (visible on the one in front); and four more behind them in the crowd; note the mantle shades are the same as the Ring-billed Gulls.

Fig. 2) On the rear left, that's a juvenile molting into first winter plumage. In the front, a winter adult w/ typical head streaking.

Fig. 3) The same juv/1st winter bird taking off, revealing the underwing coverts.	Fig. 4) The same first winter adult; note the limited white tertial crescent and the limited white spots on the primary tips. The spot on the farthest one is often worn off by early winter.

Fig. 5) A second winter bird in flight; nearly like adult, but the wings are a bit dirty above, with hints of brown, and there's more extensive streaking/spotting on the breast than on the adult above.

Fig. 6) Juvenile moulting into first winter.	Fig. 7) Juvenile moulting into first winter.

Fig. 8) First winter bird, showing pattern on underwing coverts.