The family Laridae, the gulls, terns and skimmers, is a fascinating mix of medium to large birds.  Most inhabit coastal shores and estuaries, but many spent all or some of their lives inland at marshes, rivers and lakes.  One Larid, Bonaparte’s Gull, nests in trees in northern wooded bogs.  Gulls especially have adapted to humans and are common in urban areas around fast food parking lots and municipal dumps.

I will add more photos and plumage descriptions shortly.  Plumage descriptions follow Gulls of the Americas, Howell/Dunn, Houghton Mifflin, 2007.