The Ring-billed Gull is the most common wintering gull in the area around the park so it is not surprising that this is the gull most commonly seen in the park. It can be expected on rare occasion from the reservoirs and larger rivers, but also flying over the park and in open grasslands, such as Cades Cove. Severe winter weather appears to have been responsible for several of the park records of ill, injured, or dead birds along highway 441 through the park (late December 1950 and late January 1995). This species may be more common than records indicate on Fontana Lake and the other reservoirs along the park boundary.

In Park: Locations for sightings include near Park Headquarters (late November 1950), highway 441 (late December 1950 and late January 1995), Cades Cove (late April 1952), near Elkmont (November 1991), and on Fontana Lake by the mouth of Eagle Creek (2005) [records from Stupka (1963) and others].

References:

Stupka, A. 1963. Notes on the Birds of Great Smoky Mountains National Park. University of Tennessee Press, Knoxville.

Gough, G. A., Sauer, J. R., Iliff, M. Patuxent Bird Identification InfoCenter. 1998. Version 97.1. Patuxent Wildlife Research Center, Laurel, MD.