[ 2.92. J BIRDSOFOREGON 



1.75, depth at angle of lower mandible .50^.65." (Bailey) Nest: Usually on the 

 ground on small islands, occasionally in the tules, constructed of the usual dried 

 grasses, weeds, and small sticks (Plate 48, A). Eggs: 2. to 3, ground color various 

 shades of brown or buff, spotted and blotched with browns, grays, and drabs. 



DISTRIBUTION. General: Breeds from southern Canada through North Dakota to 

 Great Salt Lake and west to southern Oregon and southern Alaska. Winters along 

 both coasts of United States and northern Mexico and north to Idaho, Montana, and 

 Great Lakes in winter. In Oregon: Breeds in Klamath (Spring Lake), Lake (Warner 

 Lake), and Harney (Malheur Lake) Counties. Winters regularly on coast, Colum- 

 bia River, at least as far inland as Portland, and occasionally, at least, inland on 

 any open water. 



THE RING-BILLED GULL, a beautiful little bird, in some of its immature 

 phases is one of the most daintily marked of any of the gulls in Oregon. 

 In many respects it is a miniature California Gull, except for the dark 

 band about the bill during the breeding season, which easily distinguishes 

 the adults from their larger relatives. In some of the immature plumages, 

 a subterminal tail band of black is also a distinct mark and enables one 

 with little or no difficulty to pick out particular individuals as Ring- 

 billed Gulls. In other seasons, it might well be confused with both 

 California and Short-billed Gulls on the wing. Gulls seen in eastern 

 Oregon at any season of the year are almost certainly this species or the 

 California Gull. 



Since Townsend (1839) first reported it from Oregon, and Bendire 

 (1877) published the first breeding record, the Ring-billed Gull has been 

 mentioned frequently in the papers of field workers in the State. As these 

 birds are great wanderers, they are likely to be found anywhere in the 

 State, particularly on inland waters (Plate 48, 5). They remain in the 

 interior until the lakes and ponds begin to freeze, and straggling indi- 

 viduals remain about open water, occasionally at least, throughout the 

 winter. The few individuals that once in a while remain on the coast 

 during the breeding season are undoubtedly nonbreeders, as there is 

 nothing in our records to indicate that this species ever breeds anywhere 

 in the State except in the great alkaline marshes in the southeastern part. 



Each of the great colonies of California Gulls in Warner Valley, Mal- 

 heur Lake, and the Klamath Basin contains its quota of Ring-billed Gulls 

 nesting in a separate and distinct area that is usually almost entirely 

 surrounded by nests of the more abundant California Gulls. The Ring- 

 bills are in such decided minority, however, that they are a negligible 

 factor in the noise and bustle of the gull colony. They lay their eggs in 

 late April or early May, and by the first of June hatching is well under 

 way. Following the breeding season they spread from their inland homes 

 to the high Cascade lakes and the coast. In late July or early August, 

 they are usually found in the Cascades and by mid-August, on the coast, 

 where they form a rather minor element in the great wintering gull flocks. 



Their food, as reported in various sources, consists of a great variety 



