Bonaparte's Gull (Chroicocephalus philadelphia)

Species · GBIF taxon 6065818

Bonaparte's Gull

Chroicocephalus philadelphia

Also known as Bonaparte Gull

Bonaparte's gulls are elegant, tern-like gulls known for their buoyant, erratic flight as they swoop to pluck insects from the air or water surface. Uniquely among North American gulls, they build cup-shaped nests in the branches of coniferous trees rather than on the ground. During the breeding season, adults display a striking slate-black hood, which they swap for a simple dark smudge behind the eye in winter.

MigratoryTree-NestingAgile Flyer

Licensed reference"Bonaparte's Gull" by marknenadov is licensed under CC BY 2.0. To view a copy of this license, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/. · cc-by

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—countries

—peak records

Least ConcernConservation status

Key facts

Diet & prey

Midges
Small Fish
Krill

Predators

Peregrine Falcon
Bald Eagle
Great Horned Owl

ThreatsHabitat loss in boreal breeding grounds, water pollution, and climate change affecting prey availability

HabitatsBoreal forests during breeding, moving to lakes, rivers, estuaries, and coastal waters during migration and winter

Life spanUp to 18 years

Size / weightNot available

Classification

FamilyLaridae
SpeciesChroicocephalus philadelphia

Range & activity

Range data is not available yet.

Safe observation

Interaction riskLow

Low
Moderate
High
Very high

Why interaction risk is low: Safe to observe at a normal distance.

Responsible observation

Scan mixed flocks: Look for their buoyant, tern-like flight style among larger gulls.
Check the ears: In winter, look for the distinctive dark spot behind the eye.
Listen for vocalizations: Listen for their unique, raspy, nasal calls.

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