Bonaparte’s Gull
Chroicocephalus philadelphia
The Bonaparte’s Gull is the smallest gull seen regularly in North America. They nest in Boreal forests of Canada and Alaska, but spend winters along the North American coast, lower Mississippi Valley and the Great Lakes. They are the only gull species known to regularly nest in trees.
Recent DNA studies revealed information to revise the long-standing classification of the Bonaparte’s Gull in the genus Larus. Now the accepted genus for these birds is Chroicocephalus.
Taxonomists regard the Bonaparte’s Gull as monotypic (i.e. there are no subspecies).
My meetings with this species have been in Alaska, Oregon, California and Texas. My favorite recollection of these meetings came April 2016, when I was in Klamath Falls (Oregon). A migrating flock of small, black-headed gulls flew in to the waterway I was filming, and began foraging on midges hovering over the surface of the water, and I captured some of their feeding behaviors.
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Bonaparte's Gull(Chroicocephalus philadelphia) |
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Description: Breeding adult bird in migration at Veteran's Park in urban Klamath Falls Oregon. Here, the Klamath River joins Upper Klamath Lake and Lake Ewauna and is called the "Link River". |
Date Taken: 2016:04:24 16:07 |
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Location:
Veteran's Park |
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Camera Information: NIKON D7200, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/1250 |
File Name: D729016-BonepartesGull |
| © 2016 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Bonaparte's Gull(Chroicocephalus philadelphia) |
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Description: Part of the collection at the Western Foundation of Vertibrate Zoology in Camarillo, California. |
Date Taken: 2011:11:02 11:19 |
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Location:
W F V Z |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 105 mm, f/8.0, 1/2 |
File Name: D3X4684-BonapartesGull |
| © 2011 Jack Daynes, shadeTree Imaging |
Bonaparte's Gull(Chroicocephalus philadelphia) |
|
Description: Part of the collection at the Western Foundation of Vertibrate Zoology in Camarillo, California. |
Date Taken: 2011:11:02 11:17 |
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Location:
W F V Z |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 105 mm, f/8.0, 1/2 |
File Name: D3X4682-BonapartesGull |
| © 2011 Jack Daynes, shadeTree Imaging |
Bonaparte's Gull(Chroicocephalus philadelphia) |
|
Description: Part of the collection at the Western Foundation of Vertibrate Zoology in Camarillo, California. |
Date Taken: 2011:11:02 11:20 |
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Location:
W F V Z |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 105 mm, f/8.0, 1/2 |
File Name: D3X4685-BonapartesGull |
| © 2011 Jack Daynes, shadeTree Imaging |
Bonaparte's Gull(Chroicocephalus philadelphia) |
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Description: Upper Klamath Lake, Klamath Falls, Southern Oregon. |
Date Taken: 2003:12:15 13:40 |
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Location:
Terminal City |
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Camera Information: NIKON D1X, 800 mm, f/6.3, 1/4000 |
File Name: JCD_4712BonepartesGull |
| © 2003 Jack Daynes, shadeTree Imaging |
Bonaparte's Gull(Chroicocephalus philadelphia) |
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Description: Upper Klamath Lake, Klamath Falls, Southern Oregon. |
Date Taken: 2003:12:15 13:31 |
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Location:
Klamath Falls |
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Camera Information: NIKON D1X, 800 mm, f/6.3, 1/4000 |
File Name: Cut-JCD_4652BonapartesGull |
| © 2003 Jack Daynes, shadeTree Imaging |
Bonaparte's Gull(Chroicocephalus philadelphia) |
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Description: Fishing the waters near Haines, Alaska. |
Date Taken: 2005:07:17 15:46 |
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Location:
Chilkoot (historical) |
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Camera Information: NIKON D2X, 550 mm, f/5.6, 1/500 |
File Name: JCD9505BonapartesGull |
| © 2005 Jack Daynes, shadeTree Imaging |
Bonaparte's Gull(Chroicocephalus philadelphia) |
|
Description: Breeding adult bird in migration at Veteran's Park in urban Klamath Falls Oregon. Here, the Klamath River joins Upper Klamath Lake and Lake Ewauna and is called the "Link River". |
Date Taken: 2016:04:24 16:37 |
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Location:
Veteran's Park |
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Camera Information: NIKON D7200, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/1250 |
File Name: D729306-BonepartesGull |
| © 2016 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Bonaparte's Gull(Chroicocephalus philadelphia) |
|
Description: Breeding adult bird in migration at Veteran's Park in urban Klamath Falls Oregon. Here, the Klamath River joins Upper Klamath Lake and Lake Ewauna and is called the "Link River". |
Date Taken: 2016:04:24 16:36 |
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Location:
Veteran's Park |
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Camera Information: NIKON D7200, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/1250 |
File Name: D729282-BonepartesGull |
| © 2016 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Bonaparte's Gull(Chroicocephalus philadelphia) |
|
Description: Breeding adult bird in migration at Veteran's Park in urban Klamath Falls Oregon. Here, the Klamath River joins Upper Klamath Lake and Lake Ewauna and is called the "Link River". |
Date Taken: 2016:04:24 16:33 |
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Location:
Veteran's Park |
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Camera Information: NIKON D7200, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/1250 |
File Name: D729237-BonepartesGull |
| © 2016 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Bonaparte's Gull(Chroicocephalus philadelphia) |
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Description: Immature bird in migration at Veteran's Park in urban Klamath Falls Oregon. Here, the Klamath River joins Upper Klamath Lake and Lake Ewauna and is called the "Link River". |
Date Taken: 2016:04:24 16:29 |
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Location:
Veteran's Park |
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Camera Information: NIKON D7200, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/1250 |
File Name: D729222-BonepartesGull |
| © 2016 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Bonaparte's Gull(Chroicocephalus philadelphia) |
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Description: First winter bird in migration at Veteran's Park in urban Klamath Falls Oregon. Here, the Klamath River joins Upper Klamath Lake and Lake Ewauna and is called the "Link River". |
Date Taken: 2016:04:24 16:21 |
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Location:
Veteran's Park |
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Camera Information: NIKON D7200, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/1250 |
File Name: D729169-BonepartesGull |
| © 2016 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Bonaparte's Gull(Chroicocephalus philadelphia) |
|
Description: Breeding adult bird in migration at Veteran's Park in urban Klamath Falls Oregon. Here, the Klamath River joins Upper Klamath Lake and Lake Ewauna and is called the "Link River". |
Date Taken: 2016:04:24 16:16 |
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Location:
Veteran's Park |
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Camera Information: NIKON D7200, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/1250 |
File Name: D729113-BonepartesGull |
| © 2016 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Bonaparte's Gull(Chroicocephalus philadelphia) |
|
Description: Breeding adult bird in migration at Veteran's Park in urban Klamath Falls Oregon. Here, the Klamath River joins Upper Klamath Lake and Lake Ewauna and is called the "Link River". |
Date Taken: 2016:04:24 16:14 |
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Location:
Veteran's Park |
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Camera Information: NIKON D7200, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/1250 |
File Name: D729088-BonepartesGull |
| © 2016 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Bonaparte's Gull(Chroicocephalus philadelphia) |
|
Description: Breeding adult bird in migration at Veteran's Park in urban Klamath Falls Oregon. Here, the Klamath River joins Upper Klamath Lake and Lake Ewauna and is called the "Link River". |
Date Taken: 2016:04:24 16:13 |
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Location:
Veteran's Park |
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Camera Information: NIKON D7200, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/1250 |
File Name: D729067-BonepartesGull |
| © 2016 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Bonaparte's Gull(Chroicocephalus philadelphia) |
|
Description: Breeding adult bird in migration at Veteran's Park in urban Klamath Falls Oregon. Here, the Klamath River joins Upper Klamath Lake and Lake Ewauna and is called the "Link River". |
Date Taken: 2016:04:24 16:07 |
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Location:
Veteran's Park |
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Camera Information: NIKON D7200, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/1250 |
File Name: D729009-BonepartesGull |
| © 2016 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Bonaparte's Gull(Chroicocephalus philadelphia) |
|
Description: Breeding adult bird in migration at Veteran's Park in urban Klamath Falls Oregon. Here, the Klamath River joins Upper Klamath Lake and Lake Ewauna and is called the "Link River". |
Date Taken: 2016:04:24 16:05 |
|
Location:
Veteran's Park |
|
Camera Information: NIKON D7200, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/1250 |
File Name: D728985-BonepartesGull |
| © 2016 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Bonaparte's Gull(Chroicocephalus philadelphia) |
|
Description: Veteran's Park in urban Klamath Falls Oregon. Here, the Klamath River joins Upper Klamath Lake and Lake Ewauna and is called the "Link River". |
Date Taken: 2016:04:24 16:04 |
|
Location:
Veteran's Park |
|
Camera Information: NIKON D7200, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/1250 |
File Name: D728953-BonepartesGull |
| © 2016 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Bonaparte's Gull(Chroicocephalus philadelphia) |
|
Description: Veteran's Park in urban Klamath Falls Oregon. Here, the Klamath River joins Upper Klamath Lake and Lake Ewauna and is called the "Link River". |
Date Taken: 2016:04:24 16:01 |
|
Location:
Veteran's Park |
|
Camera Information: NIKON D7200, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/1250 |
File Name: D728942-BonepartesGull |
| © 2016 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Bonaparte's Gull(Chroicocephalus philadelphia) |
|
Description: Breeding adult bird in migration at Veteran's Park in urban Klamath Falls Oregon. Here, the Klamath River joins Upper Klamath Lake and Lake Ewauna and is called the "Link River". |
Date Taken: 2016:04:24 15:55 |
|
Location:
Veteran's Park |
|
Camera Information: NIKON D7200, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/1250 |
File Name: D728878-BonepartesGull |
| © 2016 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Bonaparte's Gull(Chroicocephalus philadelphia) |
|
Description: Breeding adult bird in migration at Veteran's Park in urban Klamath Falls Oregon. Here, the Klamath River joins Upper Klamath Lake and Lake Ewauna and is called the "Link River". |
Date Taken: 2016:04:24 15:53 |
|
Location:
Veteran's Park |
|
Camera Information: NIKON D7200, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/1250 |
File Name: D728854-BonepartesGull |
| © 2016 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Bonaparte's Gull(Chroicocephalus philadelphia) |
|
Description: Breeding adult bird in migration at Veteran's Park in urban Klamath Falls Oregon. Here, the Klamath River joins Upper Klamath Lake and Lake Ewauna and is called the "Link River". |
Date Taken: 2016:04:24 15:51 |
|
Location:
Veteran's Park |
|
Camera Information: NIKON D7200, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/1250 |
File Name: D728810-BonepartesGull |
| © 2016 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Bonaparte's Gull(Chroicocephalus philadelphia) |
|
Description: Breeding adult bird in migration at Veteran's Park in urban Klamath Falls Oregon. Here, the Klamath River joins Upper Klamath Lake and Lake Ewauna and is called the "Link River". |
Date Taken: 2016:04:24 15:45 |
|
Location:
Veteran's Park |
|
Camera Information: NIKON D7200, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/1250 |
File Name: D728742-BonepartesGull |
| © 2016 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Bonaparte's Gull(Chroicocephalus philadelphia) |
|
Description: Breeding adult bird in migration at Veteran's Park in urban Klamath Falls Oregon. Here, the Klamath River joins Upper Klamath Lake and Lake Ewauna and is called the "Link River". |
Date Taken: 2016:04:24 15:44 |
|
Location:
Veteran's Park |
|
Camera Information: NIKON D7200, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/1250 |
File Name: D728726-BonepartesGull |
| © 2016 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Bonaparte's Gull(Chroicocephalus philadelphia) |
|
Description: The Bonaparte's Gulls I met here on the river mouth seemed to be juveniles. I rode my bike to the southern end of Boca Chica Beach and enjoyed meeting the foraging birds at the mouth of the Rio Grande. This is the east-most border of Texas and Mexico. |
Date Taken: 2021:01:30 8:21 |
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Location:
Boca Chica Beach |
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Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/11.0, 1/1000 |
File Name: BonapartesGull_D5X6076-BocaChicaBeach |
| © 2021 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Bonaparte's Gull(Chroicocephalus philadelphia) |
|
Description: The Bonaparte's Gulls I met here on the river mouth seemed to be juveniles. I rode my bike to the southern end of Boca Chica Beach and enjoyed meeting the foraging birds at the mouth of the Rio Grande. This is the east-most border of Texas and Mexico. |
Date Taken: 2021:01:30 8:21 |
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Location:
Boca Chica Beach |
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Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/11.0, 1/1000 |
File Name: BonapartesGull_D5X6111-BocaChicaBeach |
| © 2021 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Bonaparte's Gull(Chroicocephalus philadelphia) |
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Description: Miramar Lake at Scripps Ranch in San Diego California. |
Date Taken: 2015:11:14 17:04 |
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Location:
Scripps Ranch |
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Camera Information: NIKON D7200, 400 mm, f/5.0, 1/4000 |
File Name: D723154-BonapartesGull |
| © 2015 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Bonaparte's Gull(Chroicocephalus philadelphia) |
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Description: Miramar Lake at Scripps Ranch in San Diego California. |
Date Taken: 2015:11:14 17:13 |
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Location:
Scripps Ranch |
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Camera Information: NIKON D7200, 400 mm, f/5.0, 1/4000 |
File Name: D723254-BonapartesGull |
| © 2015 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Bonaparte's Gull(Chroicocephalus philadelphia) |
|
Description: Miramar Lake at Scripps Ranch in San Diego California. |
Date Taken: 2015:11:14 17:05 |
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Location:
Scripps Ranch |
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Camera Information: NIKON D7200, 400 mm, f/5.0, 1/4000 |
File Name: D723161-BonapartesGull |
| © 2015 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Bonaparte's Gull(Chroicocephalus philadelphia) |
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Description: Miramar Lake at Scripps Ranch in San Diego California. |
Date Taken: 2015:11:14 17:11 |
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Location:
Scripps Ranch |
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Camera Information: NIKON D7200, 400 mm, f/5.0, 1/4000 |
File Name: D723222-BonapartesGull |
| © 2015 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Bonaparte's Gull(Chroicocephalus philadelphia) |
|
Description: Breeding adult bird in migration at Veteran's Park in urban Klamath Falls Oregon. Here, the Klamath River joins Upper Klamath Lake and Lake Ewauna and is called the "Link River". |
Date Taken: 2016:04:24 16:16 |
|
Location:
Veteran's Park |
|
Camera Information: NIKON D7200, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/1250 |
File Name: D729113-BonapartesGull |
| © 2016 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Bonaparte's Gull(Chroicocephalus philadelphia) |
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Description: Cheena River, near the airport. Fairbanks, Alaska. |
Date Taken: 2005:07:03 16:10 |
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Location:
Creamer' Dairy |
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Camera Information: NIKON D2X, 550 mm, f/5.6, 1/1500 |
File Name: JCD7352BonapartesGull |
| © 2005 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Bonaparte's Gull(Chroicocephalus philadelphia) |
|
Description: Miramar Lake at Scripps Ranch in San Diego California. |
Date Taken: 2015:11:14 17:06 |
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Location:
Scripps Ranch |
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Camera Information: NIKON D7200, 400 mm, f/5.0, 1/4000 |
File Name: D723172-BonapartesGull |
| © 2015 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Bonaparte's Gull(Chroicocephalus philadelphia) |
|
Description: Breeding adult bird in migration at Veteran's Park in urban Klamath Falls Oregon. Here, the Klamath River joins Upper Klamath Lake and Lake Ewauna and is called the "Link River". |
Date Taken: 2016:04:24 16:05 |
|
Location:
Veteran's Park |
|
Camera Information: NIKON D7200, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/1250 |
File Name: D728985-BonapartesGull |
| © 2016 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Bonaparte's Gull(Chroicocephalus philadelphia) |
|
Description: Breeding adult bird in migration at Veteran's Park in urban Klamath Falls Oregon. Here, the Klamath River joins Upper Klamath Lake and Lake Ewauna and is called the "Link River". |
Date Taken: 2016:04:24 15:51 |
|
Location:
Veteran's Park |
|
Camera Information: NIKON D7200, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/1250 |
File Name: D728810-BonapartesGull |
| © 2016 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
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