Habitat
Nests on islands with sparse or woody vegetation in large lakes and occasionally on mainland peninsulas on near-shore oceanic islands. Occurs inland near landfills, golf courses, farm fields and on coast in estuaries, beaches, mudflats. During winter, near coasts and inland on lakes, ponds, reservoirs, streams, landfills, and metropolitan centers (Ryder 1993). An experiment in Edmonton, Canada demonstrated preference for areas with little to no vegetation (Vermeer 1970).
References
Ryder, J. P. 1993. Ring-billed Gull (Larus delawarensis). In The Birds of North America, No.33 (A. Poole and F. Gill, Eds.). Philadelphia: The Academy of Natural Sciences; Washington, D.C.: The American Ornithologists’ Union.
Vermeer, K. 1970. Breeding biology of California and ring-billed gulls. Canadian Wildlife Service Report Series Number 12. Ottawa.
