{"id":44442,"date":"2017-01-17T05:55:34","date_gmt":"2017-01-17T12:55:34","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/?p=44442"},"modified":"2025-08-05T15:16:29","modified_gmt":"2025-08-05T20:16:29","slug":"ring-billed-gull-in-earlier-than-normal-definitive-alternate-plumage","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2017\/01\/17\/ring-billed-gull-in-earlier-than-normal-definitive-alternate-plumage\/","title":{"rendered":"Ring-billed Gull In Earlier Than Normal Definitive Alternate Plumage"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Ring-billedRing-billed Gull in breeding plumage during January – Nikon D500, f8, 1\/1250, ISO 400, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light
\n<\/span><\/p>\n

In my post on the runty second winter Ring-billed Gull<\/span><\/a> I mentioned that I had seen two unusual Ring-billed Gulls on January the 3rd at my local pond. The second unusual gull I photographed that day was a Ring-billed Gull that was in earlier than normal breeding plumage, or as it is also known, Definitive Alternate Plumage. The molt wasn’t quite complete the day I photographed it because there is at least one worn feather showing on its rump, but close enough.<\/p>\n

\"Ring-billedRing-billed Gull who molted earlier than normal – Nikon D500, f13, 1\/500, ISO 400, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light<\/span><\/p>\n

This Ring-billed Gull stood out from all of the other Ring-billed Gulls near it because of its bill being a much brighter yellow, its head being pure white and the bright red orbital (eye) ring. That head was as white or whiter than the snow on the ground at the time I took these photographs.<\/p>\n

\"Ring-billedRing-billed Gull in Definitive Alternate Plumage – Nikon D500, f13, 1\/500, ISO 400, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light<\/span><\/p>\n

I start seeing some Ring-billed Gulls in breeding\/Definitive Alternate Plumage in February but I sure didn’t expect to see this one on the third day of January, I was quite surprised by it.<\/p>\n

\"RestingResting Ring-billed Gull in Definitive Basic Plumage – Nikon D500, f7.1, 1\/2000, ISO 640, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light<\/span><\/p>\n

I wanted to include images of Ring-billed Gulls in nonbreeding, or as it is also known, Definitive Basic Plumage for comparison. The gull above does not show the brighter yellow bill, it has neutral gray spotting on its head, neck and chest and the ring around its eye is a jet black not red. This Ring-billed Gull was photographed on December 25th at the same pond as the one in early January.<\/p>\n

\"Ring-billedRing-billed Gull portrait in Definitive Basic Plumage – Nikon D500, f11, 1\/1250, ISO 500, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light<\/span><\/p>\n

I photographed this portrait of a Ring-billed Gull in nonbreeding\/Definitive Basic Plumage on December 13th at the same location as the other gulls which shows the spotting on the head and neck, the black eye ring and a dull, yellowish bill. I love portraits because they show so much detail.<\/p>\n

I hope that I get to see and photograph some more unusual or rare gulls this winter. They can sure brighten the dreary days!<\/p>\n

Life is<\/em> good.<\/p>\n

Mia<\/p>\n

Click here<\/span><\/a> to see more of my Ring-billed Gull photos plus facts and information about this species.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

I start seeing some Ring-billed Gulls in breeding\/Definitive Alternate Plumage in February but I sure didn’t expect to see this one on the third day of January, I was quite surprised by it.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":151597,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":true,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[27,410,709,26],"tags":[4004,4053,4982,5606,4642,5607,3539,521,4264,2312,4246,4468,8018,373],"class_list":["post-44442","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-avian","category-ring-billed-gulls","category-salt-lake-county-utah","category-utah","tag-adult","tag-breeding-plumage","tag-comparison","tag-definitive-alternate-plumage","tag-definitive-basic-plumage","tag-early-molt","tag-gull","tag-gulls","tag-larus-delawarensis","tag-molt","tag-nonbreeding-plumage","tag-ring-billed-gull","tag-urban","tag-winter"],"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/ring-billed-gull-breeding-plumage-winter-mia-mcpherson-1742.jpg","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p11Mom-byO","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":107838,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2022\/11\/08\/winter-california-and-herring-gull-comparison-in-utah\/","url_meta":{"origin":44442,"position":0},"title":"Winter California And American Herring Gull Comparison In Utah","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"November 8, 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"Since I frequently get asked which is which I thought this would be a good time to do a winter California and American Herring Gull comparison and ID feature post.","rel":"","context":"In "American Herring Gulls"","block_context":{"text":"American Herring Gulls","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/avian\/gulls\/herring-gulls\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Herring Gull - California Gull Comparison and ID Features, Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, Box Elder County, Utah","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/herring-california-gull-winter-adult-comparison-mia-mcpherson-0305.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/herring-california-gull-winter-adult-comparison-mia-mcpherson-0305.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/herring-california-gull-winter-adult-comparison-mia-mcpherson-0305.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/herring-california-gull-winter-adult-comparison-mia-mcpherson-0305.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":118823,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2023\/12\/08\/california-gull-in-winter-plumage\/","url_meta":{"origin":44442,"position":1},"title":"California Gull In Winter Plumage","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"December 8, 2023","format":false,"excerpt":"While I was at my local pond three days ago, I was happy to photograph this California Gull in winter plumage that had just landed on the water.","rel":"","context":"In "Birds"","block_context":{"text":"Birds","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/avian\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Adult California Gull in winter plumage, Salt Lake County, Utah","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/california-gull-winter-plumage-mia-mpherson-8918.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/california-gull-winter-plumage-mia-mpherson-8918.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/california-gull-winter-plumage-mia-mpherson-8918.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/california-gull-winter-plumage-mia-mpherson-8918.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":43356,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2016\/12\/05\/comparing-adult-ring-billed-and-california-gulls\/","url_meta":{"origin":44442,"position":2},"title":"Comparing Adult Ring-billed and California Gulls","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"December 5, 2016","format":false,"excerpt":"For most of the year Ring-billed and California Gulls are some of the most common gulls here in northern Utah and for some people it might be challenging to tell them apart.","rel":"","context":"In "Antelope Island State Park"","block_context":{"text":"Antelope Island State Park","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/locations\/utah\/antelope-island-state-park\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Ring-billed Gull taking an early morning stroll, Fort De Soto County Park, Pinellas County, Florida","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/ring-billed-gull-breeding-mia-mcpherson-7689.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/ring-billed-gull-breeding-mia-mcpherson-7689.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/ring-billed-gull-breeding-mia-mcpherson-7689.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/ring-billed-gull-breeding-mia-mcpherson-7689.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":119345,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2023\/12\/26\/ring-billed-gull-portrait-and-my-sense-of-humor\/","url_meta":{"origin":44442,"position":3},"title":"Ring-billed Gull Portrait And My Sense Of Humor","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"December 26, 2023","format":false,"excerpt":"I'm sharing this day after Christmas Ring-billed Gull portrait this this morning. I know a lot of people don't like gulls. I will never be one of those people.","rel":"","context":"In "Birds"","block_context":{"text":"Birds","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/avian\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Day after Christmas Ring-billed Gull portrait, Salt Lake County, Utah","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/ring-billed-gull-portrait-mia-mcpherson-1643.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/ring-billed-gull-portrait-mia-mcpherson-1643.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/ring-billed-gull-portrait-mia-mcpherson-1643.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/ring-billed-gull-portrait-mia-mcpherson-1643.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 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February of 2011 I wrote about the age progression of Bald Eagles along with images to illustrate the ages, today I am doing the same but with Ring-billed Gulls.","rel":"","context":"In "Birds"","block_context":{"text":"Birds","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/avian\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Fluffy Ring-billed Gull after bathing, Fort De Soto County Park, Pinellas County, Florida","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/ring-billed-gull-adult-mia-mcpherson-7685.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/ring-billed-gull-adult-mia-mcpherson-7685.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/ring-billed-gull-adult-mia-mcpherson-7685.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, 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