BLACK-BILLED GULL Chroicocephalus bulleri

A New Zealand endemic which in some plumages is similar to Red-billed Gull. Immatures of that species have black bills, and it has recently been found that many adult Black-billed have some red in the bill (as here). The bill and the bird are both daintier, and both species are found together in many areas, so comparison means you soon get used to sorting them out. Another clue is if it's ringed it will be Black-billed, as it is listed as vulnerable and as such is studied, whereas Red-billed is largely ignored.

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