Juvenile Bonaparte's Gull

[thouc]

I saw a juvenile Bonaparte's Gull still with a lot of brown in its plumage at Earl Rowe Provincial Park near Alliston. I don't think I've seen a juvenile before, how unusual are they in Southern Ontario?

/Thomas

[Reuven_M]

They only retain this plumage for a very short time. So only the very first returning first year birds will show this plumage. I saw 2 at Presquile yesterday, but I certainly don't see them very often.

[Dinusaur]

Here's one photo that I took last year in early August in Nonquon Sewage Lagoon, Port Perry - there are two birds with a bit of brown plumage. Are they first year juveniles? That place gets a lot of Bonaparte's Gull.

[thouc]

Yeah, they are first year birds transitioning from juvenile to first winter plumage.