Ring-Billed Gulls are easy to identify. Faithful to their name, they have a black ring around their beaks. Another distinguishing mark is their pale eyes.
California Gulls are more difficult to identify. The key is to look at the eye ring, the beak coloring and the legs. Below is a California Gull in winter plumage. The eye ring is orange, the the beak has black on the bottom and the top (but not in the shape of a ring) and the legs are yellow/green.
The California Gull only has a white head during breeding season. The winter plumage is below.
Ring bills have similar winter plumage, but their beaks only have black.
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I leave you with a somewhat morbid yet beautiful picture of a Ring-Billed Gull standing among the carp skeletons after the poisoning of the carp at Farmington Bay.
Hey, every one has to eat (I’m assuming the poison isn’t harmful to birds/mammals). I always get confused by breeding/ winter plummage. I think your post will make it stick
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Yes, the poison only harms the carp. I just love the skeleton in the background.