A Bonaparte's Gull feeding along the sea wall at Fort Smallwood, Maryland (1/3/2010).

Photo by Bill Hubick MBP List

A Bonaparte's Gull in Queen Anne's Co., Maryland (3/3/2018).

View Record Details Photo by Daniel Irons MBP List

A Bonaparte's Gull in Harford Co., Maryland (4/2/2019).

View Record Details Photo by Matthew Addicks MBP List

Bonaparte's Gulls in Harford Co., Maryland (3/28/2015).

View Record Details Photo by Matthew Addicks MBP List

A Bonaparte's Gull feeding on the Susquehanna River in Harford Co., Maryland (3/28/2015).

View Record Details Photo by Matthew Addicks MBP List

A Bonaparte's Gull at Flag Ponds Nature Park, Calvert Co., Maryland (12/3/2011).

Photo by Rob Ostrowski MBP List

Bonaparte's Gulls in Howard Co., Maryland (11/12/2019).

View Record Details Photo by Clayton Koonce MBP List

An adult Bonaparte's Gull over Somerset Co., Maryland (4/10/2011).

Photo by Bill Hubick MBP List

Bonaparte's Gull in Frederick Co., Maryland (4/18/2024). No rights reserved.

View Record Details Photo by Andy Wilson via iNaturalist MBP List

A first-cycle Bonaparte's Gull along the Susquehanna River in Harford Co., Maryland (3/21/2015).

View Record Details Photo by Mark Johnson MBP List

A migrant first-cycle Bonaparte's Gull soars over Somerset Co., Maryland (4/10/2011).

Photo by Bill Hubick MBP List

A Bonaparte's Gull in Queen Anne's Co., Maryland (12/2/2010).

View Record Details Photo by Bill Keim MBP List

A Bonaparte's Gull in Howard Co., Maryland (4/6/2014).

View Record Details Photo by Frode Jacobsen MBP List

A Bonaparte's Gull in Queen Anne's Co., Maryland (3/3/2018).

View Record Details Photo by Daniel Irons MBP List

A first cycle Bonaparte's Gull at the Ocean City Inlet, Worcester Co., Maryland (1/1/2010).

Photo by Mikey Lutmerding MBP List

A Bonaparte's Gull in Worcester Co., Maryland (4/5/2014).

View Record Details Photo by Scott Housten MBP List

Bonaparte's Gull in Worcester Co., Maryland (12/30/2023). (c) Stephen John Davies, some rights reserved (<a rel='license' href='http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/'>CC BY-NC</a>). (Photo ID: 945566 - Psn: 65)

Bonaparte's Gull in Worcester Co., Maryland (12/30/2023). (c) Stephen John Davies, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC).

View Record Details Photo by Stephen John Davies via iNaturalist MBP List

Bonaparte's Gull in Howard Co., Maryland (4/6/2014). (c) Frode Jacobsen, some rights reserved (<a rel='license' href='http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/'>CC BY-NC</a>). (Photo ID: 706998 - Psn: 66)

Bonaparte's Gull in Howard Co., Maryland (4/6/2014). (c) Frode Jacobsen, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC).

View Record Details Photo by Frode Jacobsen MBP List

A Bonaparte's Gull foraging at the Ocean City Inlet in Worcester Co., Maryland (3/31/2014).

View Record Details Photo by Mike Burchett MBP List

A Bonaparte's Gull in Worcester Co., Maryland (4/27/2021).

View Record Details Photo by Jim Stasz MBP List

A first-cycle Bonaparte's Gull in Harford Co., Maryland (8/24/2014).

View Record Details Photo by Matthew Addicks MBP List

An immature Bonaparte's Gull in Harford Co., Maryland (3/5/2018).

View Record Details Photo by Mark Johnson MBP List

A first-cycle Bonaparte's Gull in Garrett Co., Maryland (8/6/2023). (c) Aidan, some rights reserved (<a rel='license' href='http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/'>CC BY-NC</a>). (Photo ID: 865680 - Psn: 88)

A first-cycle Bonaparte's Gull in Garrett Co., Maryland (8/6/2023). (c) Aidan, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC).

View Record Details Photo by aidanrf via iNaturalist MBP List

Bonaparte's Gull in Dorchester Co., Maryland (1/22/2024). (c) Jonathan Irons, some rights reserved (<a rel='license' href='http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/'>CC BY-NC</a>). (Photo ID: 978258 - Psn: 95)

Bonaparte's Gull in Dorchester Co., Maryland (1/22/2024). (c) Jonathan Irons, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC).

View Record Details Photo by Jonathan Irons via iNaturalist MBP List

An immature Bonaparte's Gull in Harford Co., Maryland (8/9/2018).

View Record Details Photo by Josh Emm MBP List

A Bonaparte's Gull in North Beach, Calvert Co., Maryland (4/24/2005).

View Record Details Photo by Jim Stasz MBP List

Bonaparte's Gull in Queen Anne's Co., Maryland (11/8/2020). (c) Jonathan Irons, some rights reserved (<a rel='license' href='http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/'>CC BY-NC</a>). (Photo ID: 598556 - Psn: 166)

Bonaparte's Gull in Queen Anne's Co., Maryland (11/8/2020). (c) Jonathan Irons, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC).

View Record Details Photo by Jonathan Irons MBP List

Bonaparte's Gull in Dorchester Co., Maryland (1/22/2024). (c) Jonathan Irons, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC).

View Record Details Photo by Jonathan Irons via iNaturalist MBP List

Bonaparte's Gull in Dorchester Co., Maryland (1/22/2024). (c) Jonathan Irons, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC).

View Record Details Photo by Jonathan Irons via iNaturalist MBP List

A juvenile Bonaparte's Gull on Hart-Miller Island, Baltimore Co., Maryland (9/11/1983).

View Record Details Photo by Jim Stasz MBP List

A juvenile Bonaparte's Gull in Calvert Co., Maryland (11/28/2022). (c) rosalie-rick, all rights reserved. (Photo ID: 693565 - Psn: 180)

View Record Details Photo by rosalie-rick via iNaturalist MBP List

Bonaparte's Gull in Worcester Co., Maryland (12/30/2022). (c) Jonathan Irons, some rights reserved (<a rel='license' href='http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/'>CC BY-NC</a>). (Photo ID: 1114847 - Psn: 188)

Bonaparte's Gull in Worcester Co., Maryland (12/30/2022). (c) Jonathan Irons, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC).

View Record Details Photo by Jonathan Irons via iNaturalist MBP List

Map Snapshot

443 Records

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Bonaparte's Gull in Queen Anne's Co., Maryland (4/7/2024). (c) dansmall, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). - Dan Small.

Status

The Bonaparte's Gull was named not for the French general, but for his nephew, the zoologist Charles Lucien Bonaparte. This gull is a winter resident along the Atlantic Coast, where it feasts on fish, crustaceans, and other marine life. On its Canadian breeding grounds, it subsists mostly on insects, often taking them on the wing. It also nests in trees, an unusual habit among gulls.

Where To Find

In winter, most easily found at the Ocean City Inlet. In spring migration, can be abundant along Back River and the Susquehanna River.

Relationships

Large flocks sometimes attract vagrant Little Gulls, Black-headed Gulls, and others.

Seasonality Summary

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Resources

View at iNaturalist Search Google Images Search MBP Facebook posts

View full eBird Range Map

Citations

No citations linked for this taxon yet.

Use of media featured on Maryland Biodiversity Project is only permitted with express permission of the photographer.

A Bonaparte's Gull feeding along the sea wall at Fort Smallwood, Maryland (1/3/2010). Media by Bill Hubick.

A Bonaparte's Gull in Queen Anne's Co., Maryland (3/3/2018). View Record Details Media by Daniel Irons.

A Bonaparte's Gull in Harford Co., Maryland (4/2/2019). View Record Details Media by Matthew Addicks.

Bonaparte's Gulls in Harford Co., Maryland (3/28/2015). View Record Details Media by Matthew Addicks.

A Bonaparte's Gull feeding on the Susquehanna River in Harford Co., Maryland (3/28/2015). View Record Details Media by Matthew Addicks.

A Bonaparte's Gull at Flag Ponds Nature Park, Calvert Co., Maryland (12/3/2011). Media by Rob Ostrowski.

Bonaparte's Gulls in Howard Co., Maryland (11/12/2019). View Record Details Media by Clayton Koonce.

An adult Bonaparte's Gull over Somerset Co., Maryland (4/10/2011). Media by Bill Hubick.

Bonaparte's Gull in Frederick Co., Maryland (4/18/2024). No rights reserved. View Record Details Media by Andy Wilson via iNaturalist.

A first-cycle Bonaparte's Gull along the Susquehanna River in Harford Co., Maryland (3/21/2015). View Record Details Media by Mark Johnson.

A migrant first-cycle Bonaparte's Gull soars over Somerset Co., Maryland (4/10/2011). Media by Bill Hubick.

A Bonaparte's Gull in Queen Anne's Co., Maryland (12/2/2010). View Record Details Media by Bill Keim.

A Bonaparte's Gull in Howard Co., Maryland (4/6/2014). View Record Details Media by Frode Jacobsen.

A Bonaparte's Gull in Queen Anne's Co., Maryland (3/3/2018). View Record Details Media by Daniel Irons.

A first cycle Bonaparte's Gull at the Ocean City Inlet, Worcester Co., Maryland (1/1/2010). Media by Mikey Lutmerding.

A Bonaparte's Gull in Worcester Co., Maryland (4/5/2014). View Record Details Media by Scott Housten.

Bonaparte's Gull in Worcester Co., Maryland (12/30/2023). (c) Stephen John Davies, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). View Record Details Media by Stephen John Davies via iNaturalist.

Bonaparte's Gull in Howard Co., Maryland (4/6/2014). (c) Frode Jacobsen, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). View Record Details Media by Frode Jacobsen.

A Bonaparte's Gull foraging at the Ocean City Inlet in Worcester Co., Maryland (3/31/2014). View Record Details Media by Mike Burchett.

A Bonaparte's Gull in Worcester Co., Maryland (4/27/2021). View Record Details Media by Jim Stasz.

A first-cycle Bonaparte's Gull in Harford Co., Maryland (8/24/2014). View Record Details Media by Matthew Addicks.

An immature Bonaparte's Gull in Harford Co., Maryland (3/5/2018). View Record Details Media by Mark Johnson.

A first-cycle Bonaparte's Gull in Garrett Co., Maryland (8/6/2023). (c) Aidan, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). View Record Details Media by aidanrf via iNaturalist.

Bonaparte's Gull in Dorchester Co., Maryland (1/22/2024). (c) Jonathan Irons, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). View Record Details Media by Jonathan Irons via iNaturalist.

An immature Bonaparte's Gull in Harford Co., Maryland (8/9/2018). View Record Details Media by Josh Emm.

A Bonaparte's Gull in North Beach, Calvert Co., Maryland (4/24/2005). View Record Details Media by Jim Stasz.

Bonaparte's Gull in Queen Anne's Co., Maryland (11/8/2020). (c) Jonathan Irons, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). View Record Details Media by Jonathan Irons.

Bonaparte's Gull in Dorchester Co., Maryland (1/22/2024). (c) Jonathan Irons, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). View Record Details Media by Jonathan Irons via iNaturalist.

A juvenile Bonaparte's Gull on Hart-Miller Island, Baltimore Co., Maryland (9/11/1983). View Record Details Media by Jim Stasz.

Bonaparte's Gull in Worcester Co., Maryland (12/30/2022). (c) Jonathan Irons, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). View Record Details Media by Jonathan Irons via iNaturalist.