Role of male and female Ring-billed Gulls in the care of young and territorial defense

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Abstract
This study deals with differences between the sexes in the parental and territorial behaviour of 17 pairs of Ring-billed Gulls (Larus delawarensis) breeding in the periphery of a colony on Île de la Couvée, Quebec. Males devoted more time than females in territorial attendance, but there was no difference between the sexes in the frequency of feeding the young. Territorial attendance progressively decreased from the end of the 1st week of June and was lower after hatching than before. Males were chiefly involved in high-level agonistic interactions. Agonistic interactions on the whole were more frequent during the post-hatch period; this increase appeared to be related to the greater mobility of the young and to the fact that they attempted to rob regurgitations.