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The ring-billed gull is a frequent sight. It is identifiable by a black ring abound its bill and yellowish-green or pale-green legs. Being gregarious, it is often seen with other gulls. Ralph LaPlant photo

It has been said that young “birders” are making progress when they are able to determine a ring-billed gull from a herring gull. The ring-billed gull is a bird about 19” long when mature, has a black ring around its bill, and has yellowish green or pale green legs. The herring gull is a little larger, has a red spot on its bill, and has flesh colored legs. The ring-billed is more buoyant and dovelike than the herring.

Being considered a regular summer resident and migrant, this gull is common to abundant in Minnesota during the spring and fall in most of the state. Wintering along the Atlantic and Gulf coasts, upwards along the Mississippi River to northern Illinois where from there its wintering areas fork northeast to along the Wisconsin - Michigan border to the Great Lakes and straight north to southeastern Minnesota, this bird breeds in Manitoba and Saskatchewan. There is one noticeable breeding site in Minnesota, located east centrally, near the south side of Mille Lacs Lake.

Breeding in colonies, nests are built on the ground out of grasses, dead reeds, sticks and other debris. The inside is built of the same material as the outside, but only finer. Sometimes feathers are used inside as well.

After an incubation period of about 21 days, two to four eggs that are shades of bluish-white to dark-brown with spots or blotches of shades of brown or lavender hatch.

Equipped with webbed feet, the bird adapts wonderfully to water and is an excellent swimmer. In water, the ring-billed gull eats fish and floating refuse. On land it eats grasshoppers and other insects and their larvae that are turned up by the farmer’s plow. In addition, field mice and other rodents are consumed. All of this makes this gull a very efficient scavenger and insect destroyer.  Another name for the ring-billed gull is common gull. This bird can live up to 21 years.