Bonaparte's Gull
Breeding adult
Small gull with a thin black bill. Breeding adults have an entirely black head with thin white eye crescents and red legs.
© Yvonne Bieman | Macaulay LibraryOntario, July 23, 2017Nonbreeding adult
Small and delicate looking gull with a thin black bill. Nonbreeding adults have a black smudge behind the eye and pink legs.
© Evan Lipton | Macaulay LibraryMassachusetts, November 03, 2016Breeding adult and immature
Found along lakes, rivers, marshes, bays, and beaches. Note thin black bill, dark hood on the adult, and black ear patch on the immature.
© Jay McGowan | Macaulay LibraryNew York, May 15, 2015Not all videos have soundFirst winter
First winter birds have a black smudge behind the eye and a black bar across the wings that is visible on resting and flying birds.
© Anonymous eBirder | Macaulay LibraryOntario, November 08, 2005Juvenile
Juveniles are a patchwork of brown and gray, but note the dark spot behind the eye.
© Bruce Gates | Macaulay LibraryOntario, August 03, 2017Nonbreeding adult
In flight, nonbreeding adults have a white tail and black tips on the primaries.
© Caleb Putnam | Macaulay LibraryMichigan, November 27, 2016First winter
First winter birds show the characteristic "M" pattern on the back and have pale underwings, only showing black on the tips of the feathers. Note black tail band.
© Brendan Klick | Macaulay LibraryMichigan, September 09, 2017Juvenile
Juveniles have a black "M" pattern with a mottled brown-and-gray body.
© Anonymous eBirder | Macaulay LibraryOntario, August 06, 2007First summer
First summer birds start to acquire black feathers on the head. Note dark spot behind the eye.
© Alix d'Entremont | Macaulay LibraryNova Scotia, July 20, 2014Habitat
Breeds around lakes and marshes in the boreal forest. Winters along lakes, rivers, marshes, bays, and beaches along the coast.
© Kate Caldwell | Macaulay LibraryAlberta, July 26, 2017