Bonaparte's Gull

Bonaparte's Gulls are Common in Western Washington from August-May.

Habitat

During migration and in winter, they frequent bodies of water, including rivers, lagoons, lakes, sewage ponds, estuaries.

Behavior

Bonaparte's Gulls generally forage in single-species flocks, but are commonly seen in the same spot as many other gull species. They do not frequent garbage dumps, but often feed at sewage lagoons. They use a variety of foraging strategies, including dropping into the water from the air, picking up items while swimming or wading, and catching insects in mid-air. They often occur in tight feeding aggregations with peak numbers corresponding closely to density of fish. They are subject to kleptoparasitism by Parasitic Jaegers.