Bonaparte's Gull

About the Bonaparte's Gull
Bonaparte's Gull

The Bonaparte's Gull is a small "black-headed" New World species of gull. They breed across much of Canada and Alaska, and winter along the west coast of North America and across a large portion of the southeastern United States and part of the Caribbean.

Bonaparte's Gulls are unique in that they are the only species of gull to regularly nest in trees. They build nests out of leaves, twigs, grasses, and moss in coniferous trees.

Bonaparte's Gulls are named for the French ornithologist Charles Lucien Bonaparte, who lived and worked in Philadelphia during the 1820s.

Details & Statistics

International Names

Related Articles

Gulls Named For People

This week, we're celebrating the gulls of the world! Join us as we highlight these social and intelligent birds. Today we're talking about how some gulls got their common names. Of the approximately 55 recognized species of gull in...  Read more »