The Bonaparte’s Gulls, Larus Philadelphia, are small, migratory gulls that often move east or west to coastal waters, such as the Great Lakes. They are rare vagrants in Western Europe.
Adults are 31-34 cm long with a 79-84 cm wingspan. They have a black hood and a short thin dark bill. The body is mainly white with a pale grey back and upper wings. The underwing is pale and the wing tips are dark. They have orange legs. In winter, the head is white.
Their breeding habitat is near bogs or lakes in coniferous forests across western Canada and Alaska. They nest in conifers, sometimes on the ground.
Bonaparte’s Gulls mostly eat insects, crustaceans, and fish. They forage in flight or pick food up while swimming or wading.
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