Tuesday, August 18, 2015

Bonaparte's Gull

 Juvenile Bonaparte's Gull (Chroicephalus philadelphia) 

A few Bonaparte's Gulls have left their boreal forest breeding grounds - the ONLY gulls that build nests in tree - and have headed south. Some will spend the winter in areas near Lakes Ontario and  Erie, and the southern tip of Lake Michigan, but others will head further south to places such as Texas, Mexico and Cuba.

Soon this gull will have a white head with a black dot like the juvenile in the first photo

When breeding they eat mostly insects, but here they are feasting on  large invertebrates and small fish. They DO NOT eat garbage or carrion as some other gulls do.

Adult (on right) in breeding plumage

I am connecting to Stewart M's Wild Bird Wednesday HERE

24 comments:

chica said...

Muito lindas fotos! bjs, chica

Amy at love made my home said...

Very interesting birds indeed! xx

Revrunner said...

A cut above your average garbage-collecting seagull. :-)

jp@A Green Ridge said...

They look much classier than the regular beach gulls...:)JP

4 Lettre Words said...

Awww...he seems so proud!

eileeninmd said...

Pretty captures of the gulls, I have not begun to try to id the gulls. Just the juvenile gulls are confusing to me. Have a happy day!

diane b said...

Love the last shot with the reflections.

Shammickite said...

What a funny looking gull!

MadSnapper said...

amazing reflection shot. love it... and they are certainly much more handsome that the Other Bonaparte

Rose said...

Not a bird I have ever seen...but they are gorgeous.

21 Wits said...

Beautiful birds, and not one I knew about.

Stephanie said...

Great shots!

William Kendall said...

They certainly are distinctive!

Lowell said...

Good-looking birds. I don't recall seeing any down here but for me I think a gull is a gull is a gull and I'd probably not notice any particular kind.

Silver Parrot said...

Very interesting gulls - I don't think we have them here so nice to see a different type.

Margaret Birding For Pleasure said...

It was great to see the juv. as well as the adult and the relfections were wonderful

Birdman said...

Napoleon would be so proud!

mick said...

Great photos of the gulls with the different plumage.

GreenComotion said...

Who wouldn't want a family name like that?
The 3rd photo, with the reflection in the water is A+!
Have a Happy Week, Tina!
Peace :)

Kay said...

You had my attention at "boreal forest breeding grounds." What an interesting and amazing gull and I so admire their more refined eating habits. I love all the different birds you introduce!

Adam Jones said...

Very smart looking gulls, and I've learnt some interesting facts about them. :-)

Lea said...

I'll be watching to see if they come through here (northeast Mississippi) on their way farther south. We often see gulls just north of us on the Tennessee River.

A Colorful World said...

Great shots!

Wally Jones said...

Nice post on this beautiful gull! I love watching them hover and "pluck" a meal from the water's surface instead of a headlong crash like other gulls.

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East Gwillimbury is a rural town less than an hour north of Toronto, Canada's largest city. My family calls me CameraGirl because I take my camera with me wherever I go.