Adult winter Ring-billed Gull (Larus delawarensis) top left, adult winter Common [Mew] Gull (Larus canus) at right, and four Black-headed Gulls (Larus ridibundus) in front. Chioggia, NE Italy, 23-Dec-2000, photo by Giulio Piras

UP: You are seeing a range of eight middle-sized gulls: the first seven are Common [Mew] Gulls (Larus canus), while at the right end there is an adult Ring-billed Gull (Larus delawarensis). Note the sligthly clearer mantle, stocky shape and absence of white at the scapular tips. Mantle color is similar to the Black-headed Gull (Larus ridibundus) at the top right. Chioggia, NE Italy, 22-Jan-2001.

DOWN: Both Common Gulls and the Ring-billed feed daily during lowtide by picking-up the algae from the mudflat, searching for little fish, crabs or shrimps (see top of the photo), while Black-headed Gulls prefere picking food by swimming on shallow water (see bottom). The Ring-billed Gull (first or second for Italy, if accepted) was found by Menotti Passarella on 18-Dec-2000, and again on 23-Dec-2000, 6-Jan-2001, 22-Jan-2001, 3-Feb-2001 and 12-Feb-2001.

UP: Again a photo of the Ring-billed Gull found at Chioggia. This picture were taken by Ernesto Occhiato on 6-Jan-2001. Note the color of the mantle beeing very similar to the two Black-headed Gulls on front.

DOWN: Ring-billed Gull updated: here we found the bird top left with two adult winter Common Gull (Larus canus). Note the different mante colour. The same bird in the photo at the bottom. Chioggia, NE Italy, 12-Feb-2001, both photos by Menotti Passarella.