Bonaparte's Gull
Chroicocephalus philadelphia
Rare to Ivvavik 4
This species is rare to Ivvavik National Park. If you see this species and manage to take a photo, please upload it to iNaturalist and/or send it to us directly at yukoncdc@gov.yk.ca. You will be helping us expand the scientific knowledge of this bird.
Summary 5
Smaller than most gulls, Bonaparte’s Gull is most easily identified by its size (33cm/13in), thin black bill, and bright orange legs. In summer, this species has a black head, gray body, and light gray wings that, unlike those of the similarly-patterned Laughing Gull (Leucophaeus atricilla), have white leading edges and black tips. In winter, this species becomes white-headed except for a small black spot behind the eye. Males and females are similar to one another in all seasons.
It breeds over a wide area of southern Alaska and Canada east to Quebec. However, despite its large breeding territory, this species nests only locally within its breeding range. In winter, it migrates south to the southern Great Lakes and coastal areas of the U.S.south to central Mexico. In summer, it breeds along open edges of northern evergreen forests near water, being among the only gulls to nest in trees. In winter, this species may be found along large bodies of fresh or salt water, including on riverbanks, sandy beaches, and the open ocean.
Bonaparte’s Gull eats small fish at all seasons, but this species also eats insects while further inland in summer. Due to the relative inaccessibility of this species’ breeding grounds, most birdwatchers only observe them during winter, when they are relatively common along the coasts. This species is most easily observed plunging into the water to catch small fish.
Sources and Credits
- (c) Len Blumin, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-ND), http://www.flickr.com/photos/9062441@N02/2145448350
- (c) Andrew Reding, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-ND), https://www.flickr.com/photos/seaotter/17431715766/
- (c) Jamie Chavez, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), https://www.flickr.com/photos/almiyi/8410350892/
- (c) Yukon Conservation Data Centre, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-SA)
- Adapted by Yukon Conservation Data Centre from a work by (c) Unknown, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-SA), http://eol.org/data_objects/22710065
More Info
Range Map
iNat Map
| Color | black, grey, white |
|---|---|
| Animal | Bird |
| Bird | gull |
