Gulls

Bonaparte's Gull

Chroicocephalus philadelphia

One of North America's smallest gulls, with a black hood in breeding plumage and a buoyant, tern-like flight. Unlike most gulls, it nests in trees rather than on the ground.

Current regional viewing notes

Icy Strait, bays, and nearshore waters around Hoonah; often seen in flocks dipping to the surface while feeding.

Dataset note: This legacy field can be specific to Southeast Alaska/Hoonah and is not a complete statewide range statement.

Habitat

Coastal bays, estuaries, harbors, and boreal lakes during breeding.

Diet

Small fish, insects, and crustaceans picked from the water surface.

Natural history note

Bonaparte's Gull is one of the few gull species that nests in coniferous trees, typically building its nest in a spruce tree near a boreal lake.