Skimmers, Noddies, Terns, and Gulls
Bonaparte’s Gull
Chroicocephalus philadelphia
- Family
- Skimmers, Noddies, Terns, and Gulls (Laridae)
- Order
- Charadriiformes
Overview
Bonaparte's gull (Chroicocephalus philadelphia) is a gull found mainly in northern North America. At 28 to 38 cm (11 to 15 in) in length, it is one of the smallest species of gull. Its plumage is mainly white with grey upperparts. During breeding season, Bonaparte's gull gains a slaty-black hood.
Summary from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Range and habitat
Breeds boreal forest zone from southwestern Alaska mainland across Canada to eastern Quebec (southeastern Canada); winters eastern North Pacific coast southward to west-central Mexico, inland southeastern USA, western North Atlantic coast and offshore Gulf Stream southward to the Bahamas and Cuba.
Range description: AviList Global Avian Checklist.
Sources and further reading
- Wikipedia: Bonaparte's gull
- eBird: sightings, maps and photos
- xeno-canto: sound recordings
- Birds of the World: full species account (subscription)
- BirdLife DataZone: status and threats
- IUCN Red List (threat status)
- AviList global checklist (taxonomy)
Last updated September 29, 2026.
