Ring-billed Gull (Larus delawarensis)
The Ring-billed Gull (Larus delawarensis) is a highly adaptable bird commonly found along the St. Lawrence River and lakes in Montreal. Known for its competitive nature, this species thrives in urban environments, often seen vying with pigeons for food in city settings.
| 🇫🇷 | Goéland à bec cerclé |
| 🇩🇪 | Ringschnabelmöwe |
| 🇲🇽 | Gaviota de Delaware |
| Taxonomy | |
| Order | Charadriiformes |
| Family | Laridae |
How to Identify
To accurately identify the Ring-billed Gull, close observation is necessary. As its name suggests, this species is distinguished by a prominent black ring around its bill, a feature also visible in older juveniles. Although it is the smallest gull found in Montreal, size alone is not a reliable identifier, particularly when compared to the slightly larger Herring Gull.
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Characteristics
| Length | 53-54cm |
| Weight | 300-700g |
| Wingspan | 105-117cm |
| Clutch Size | 2-4 eggs |
| Incubation | 20-31 days |
| Fledging | 45 days |
| Sexual Maturity | 3-4 years |
Resources
Where and When to Spot
The Ring-billed Gull can be observed year-round along the rivers and lakes of Montreal. It is particularly abundant at the river's edge in parks such as Rapids Park Lachine. Although sightings are less frequent in winter, the species can still be found within the city itself. Typically, when you encounter a gull on the streets of Montreal, it is likely a Ring-billed Gull.
Observation Records by Park and Season
| Location | Spring | Summer | Autumn | Winter |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jardin Botanique de Montréal | x | - | x | - |
| Parc Angrignon | x | x | x | x |
| Parc Bernard-Landry | x | - | - | - |
| Parc Michel-Chartrand | x | - | - | x |
| Parc Nature Pointe aux Prairies | x | - | - | - |
| Parc de la Cité | - | x | - | - |
| Parc de la Frayère | x | x | x | x |
| Parc des Rapides | x | x | x | x |
| Parc Île-de-la-Visitation | x | - | - | - |
| Saguenay St. Lawrence Marine Park | - | x | - | - |
"x" indicates the species was observed, while "-" indicates no observation. Lack of observation doesn't necessarily imply that the species is absent. Data is derived from our park visit journals.