Birds Active during the day

Bonaparte's Gull

Chroicocephalus philadelphia

iNaturalist eBird Wikipedia

An elegant, tern-like gull known for its striking black hood and the remarkable habit of nesting in evergreen trees across the northern wilderness.

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Quick Identification

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Size

Length: 28–38 cm (11–15 in); Wingspan: 76–84 cm (30–33 in); Weight: 180–225 g (6.3–7.9 oz)

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Colors

White body and tail with pale grey wings; adults have a slaty-black hood in summer and a black ear-spot in winter; black bill and bright orange-red legs.

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Key Features

Slaty-black hood during breeding season
Small black spot behind the eye in non-breeding plumage
Translucent white 'wedges' on outer wing tips
Thin, needle-like black bill

When You’ll See Them

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Activity pattern Active during the day

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Peak hours 7-10 AM, 3-6 PM

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Season April-May and September-November

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Diet Primarily insects during the breeding season, often caught mid-air; shifts to small fish, crustaceans, and marine worms during migration and winter.

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Habitat Boreal forests for nesting; coastal beaches, estuaries, large lakes, and rivers during migration and winter.

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Where Does the Bonaparte's Gull Live?

Native to North America, the Bonaparte's Gull follows a vast migratory path that stretches from the subarctic to the subtropics. They spend their summers breeding in the boreal forests of Alaska and across nearly all of Canada. As winter approaches, they move south to inhabit the Atlantic and Pacific coasts of the United States, the Gulf of Mexico, and parts of the Caribbean, making them a common sight for birdwatchers across the continent during their seasonal transit.

Basemap © OpenStreetMap contributors

4 Countries

8.5M km² Range

Least Concern Conservation

CA Canada US United States MX Mexico Bahamas

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iNaturalist / Verified observation data

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Behavior

The Bonaparte's Gull is a graceful and acrobatic flyer, often moving with light, snappy wingbeats that resemble a tern more than a typical gull. Unlike many of its larger relatives, it rarely scavenges at landfills or parking lots, preferring to hunt for live prey. They are uniquely famous for being the only gull species that regularly builds its nests in trees, specifically high up in conifers within the northern boreal forests.

During the non-breeding season, these gulls are highly social and can be found in large flocks along coastlines and Great Lakes shorelines. They are surface-feeders, frequently hovering just above the water to pluck small fish or insects from the surface. While they are vocal, their calls are a distinctive rasping 'cheer' or 'wheer,' which is much softer and less raucous than the screams of a Herring Gull.

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Camera Tips

To capture high-quality images of Bonaparte's Gulls, position your camera near shorelines or mudflats during the peak migration windows in spring and autumn. Because these gulls are smaller and lower to the ground than other species, a low-angle camera mount (around 12 to 18 inches) is ideal. This perspective captures the bird at eye level, providing a much more intimate look at their delicate facial features and bright red legs.

Since they are primarily surface feeders and insect hunters, they aren't attracted to standard birdseed. However, if you are setting up a camera on a private dock or shoreline, look for areas where small fish congregate or where aquatic insects are hatching. A camera with a fast trigger speed is essential, as these birds are fast and spend much of their time in flight or hovering briefly over the water's surface.

Pay close attention to lighting. Their white plumage can easily become 'blown out' or overexposed in harsh midday sun. Set your camera to be active during the golden hours of early morning or late afternoon. If your camera allows for exposure compensation, a setting of -0.3 or -0.7 can help preserve the detail in their white feathers. In their northern breeding range, you might even find success pointing a trail camera toward the mid-canopy of spruce trees near water, though their nests are notoriously difficult to spot.

Similar Species

Species that look similar or are commonly confused with Bonaparte's Gull.

Franklin's Gull

Has a thicker, darker red bill and a more extensive black pattern on the wingtips with prominent white spots.

Little Gull

The world's smallest gull, it lacks the white wing wedges of the Bonaparte's and has distinctive dark charcoal underwings.

Black-headed Gull

Slightly larger with a dark chocolate-brown hood (rather than black) and a dark red bill.

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Frequently Asked Questions

They are most active during daylight hours, specifically in the early morning and late afternoon when they forage for insects and small fish near the water's surface.

These gulls are rarely backyard visitors unless you have a large waterfront property. They do not eat seed; instead, they are attracted to healthy ecosystems with plenty of small fish and aquatic insects.

Their diet consists of insects (often caught in flight), small fish like herring, and various crustaceans or marine worms found in mudflats.

They are usually only seen in suburban areas that are situated along major migration routes, specifically near large lakes, rivers, or coastal bays.

Bonaparte's Gulls have a thinner, all-black bill and white 'wedges' on their outer wings, whereas Franklin's Gulls have a thicker red-to-black bill and white spots near their black wingtips.

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