# Bonaparte's Gull (*Chroicocephalus philadelphia*) Bonaparte's Gull is a small, graceful bird with a black cap on its head and white wings. It loves to glide over water and is often seen near lakes and rivers, making it a delightful sight for bird watchers! - **Category:** [Birds](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/bird) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 7 - **Habitat:** Coastal areas - **Also known as:** Bonaparte Gull ![Bonaparte's Gull](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Bonaparte's_Gull_Biloxi_RWD2.jpg&width=800) Photo: DickDaniels ( http://carolinabirds.org/ ), CC BY-SA 3.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Bonaparte's_Gull_Biloxi_RWD2.jpg) ## Appearance The Bonaparte's Gull is a small, slender gull. In breeding season, it has a distinctive sooty-black head and a bright white triangle on the outer wing. During winter, its head turns white, marked only by a small dark spot behind the eye. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Aves - **Order:** Charadriiformes - **Family:** Laridae - **Genus:** Chroicocephalus ## Interesting facts - Bonaparte's Gulls are one of the smallest gulls, barely larger than a robin! - These gulls build their nests in trees, unlike most other gull species! - They have a tiny black 'ear spot' behind their eye during winter. - They often dip their bills into the water while flying, scooping up tiny snacks! ## Special abilities - **Aerial Insect Hunter:** Bonaparte's Gulls can deftly catch flying insects mid-air because of their agile flight and quick reflexes. - **Seasonal Disguise:** Bonaparte's Gulls have unique plumage that changes dramatically with the seasons, signaling breeding status and aiding camouflage. - **Cooperative Fisher:** Bonaparte's Gulls can often be seen fishing alongside other bird species, indicating social foraging strategies that help them find prey. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 28-35 cm - **Wingspan:** 76-79 cm - **Weight:** 0.14-0.25 kg - **Lifespan:** 10-18 years - **Speed:** 40 km/h - **Clutch Size:** 2-4 - **Incubation:** 22-24 days - **Migration Distance:** 4000 km ## Diet & Feeding These gulls enjoy a diverse diet of insects, tiny fish, and other small aquatic creatures! - **Primary Foods:** midges, small crustaceans, capelin, herring, marine worms, insects - **Foraging Method:** Foraging ## Ecological connections - **Hunts:** [Peregrine Falcon](https://www.snappit.app/explore/peregrine-falcon) (*Falco peregrinus*) — Peregrine Falcons may hunt adult Bonaparte's Gulls. - **Eaten by:** bloodworm midge (*Chironomus plumosus*) — Adult midges are a significant food source for these gulls. - **Eaten by:** Capelin (*Mallotus villosus*) — Small schooling Capelin fish are often caught by Bonaparte's Gulls. ## Traits - [Feathered](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/feathered): Feathered describes animals, primarily birds, possessing a covering of feathers. - [Social](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/social): Social animals live in organized groups, cooperating for survival benefits such as foraging, defense, and raising offspring. - [Filter Feeder](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/filter-feeder): Filter feeders obtain nutrients by straining suspended food particles and small organisms from water. - [Gliding](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/gliding): Gliding animals move through the air by launching themselves and maintaining flight with specialized body structures, without flapping wings. - [Piscivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/piscivorous): Piscivorous organisms are animals that primarily subsist on a diet of fish. - [Coastal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/coastal): Coastal habitats are dynamic environments located along the interface between land and sea, influenced by tides, waves, and saltwater. - [Diurnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/diurnal): Diurnal animals are primarily active during daylight hours, typically resting or sleeping at night. - [Aquatic](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/aquatic): Aquatic habitats encompass environments where organisms live predominantly in water, including oceans, rivers, lakes, and wetlands. - [Migratory](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/migratory): Migratory animals undertake seasonal movements from one region to another, typically in response to changes in climate or food availability. ## Collections - [Birds](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/birds) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Always watch birds from a distance and don't try to touch them. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Bonaparte's Gull? Compare the silhouette, bill shape, tail length, wing bars and markings around the eyes. The same small brown bird at your feeder can look quite different in breeding plumage, winter plumage or its first year. Bird Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How long is Bonaparte's Gull? 28-35 cm ### What is Bonaparte's Gull's wingspan? 76-79 cm ### How much does Bonaparte's Gull weigh? 0.14-0.25 kg ### How long does Bonaparte's Gull live? 10-18 years ### How fast can Bonaparte's Gull move? 40 km/h ### What does Bonaparte's Gull eat? These gulls enjoy a diverse diet of insects, tiny fish, and other small aquatic creatures! ### Where is Bonaparte's Gull usually found? Coastal areas ## Where to spot - [Chicken Ridge Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/chicken-ridge-historic-district) — US · Historic District - [Kennebunkport Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/kennebunkport-historic-district) — Maine, US · Historic District - [Saxman Totem Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/saxman-totem-park) — Alaska, US · Historic District - [Cape Arundel Summer Colony Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/cape-arundel-summer-colony-historic-district) — US · Historic District - [Fuller Gardens](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/fuller-gardens) — New Hampshire, US · Botanical Garden - [Juneau Downtown Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/juneau-downtown-historic-district) — US · Historic District [View all places to see Bonaparte's Gull](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/bonapartes-gull) ## More Birds - [Black-crowned Night Heron](https://www.snappit.app/explore/black-crowned-night-heron) (*Nycticorax nycticorax*) - [Anna's Hummingbird](https://www.snappit.app/explore/annas-hummingbird) (*Calypte anna*) - [Great Egret](https://www.snappit.app/explore/great-egret) (*Ardea alba*) - [Blue Jay](https://www.snappit.app/explore/blue-jay) (*Cyanocitta cristata*) --- Source: [Bonaparte's Gull: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/bonapartes-gull)