Bonaparte's Gull

1/640s at f8.0, ISO:800, Canon Mark III 1Ds w/800mm, 1.4x converter


The breeding habitat of the Bonaparte s gull is near bogs or lakes in coniferous forest across western Canada and Alaska. They nest in conifers, sometimes on the ground. They are migratory and most move east or west to coastal waters, also the Great Lakes. They are rare vagrants to Western Europe, where they usually associate with the somewhat larger Black-headed Gulls. These birds forage in flight or pick up objects while swimming or wading. They mainly eat insects, crustaceans and fish. Unlike some other gulls, this bird rarely scavenges. They are graceful in flight, more like terns.
Churchill, Manitoba
 
06/21/2010