Franklin's Gull

The Franklin's gull (Leucophaeus pipixcan) is a small gull, with a length ranging from 12.6 to 14.2 inches (32 to 36 cm). In the summer, the adult boasts a striking white body contrasted by a dark grey back and wings, which are markedly darker than those of other gulls of similar size, save for the larger Laughing gull. Its wings are tipped with black and adorned with a white band adjacent to the tips. During the breeding season, the adult's head is crowned with a black hood, which it mostly loses in the winter months. The bill and legs are a vibrant red.

Identification Tips

The Franklin's gull can be identified by its size, dark grey back, and the distinctive black tips with a white band on its wings. The red bill and legs are also notable, especially during the breeding season. Juveniles resemble adults but have less developed hoods and lack the white wing band. It takes three years for them to reach full maturity.

Habitat

This gull breeds in colonies near prairie lakes, often constructing nests on the ground or sometimes floating.

Distribution

Franklin's gull is a migratory species, breeding in central provinces of Canada and adjacent northern United States and wintering in Argentina, the Caribbean, Chile, and Peru. While uncommon on the coasts of North America, it has been recorded as a rare vagrant in northwest Europe, south and west Africa, Australia, Japan, Israel, and southeast Europe.

Behaviour

Franklin's gulls are omnivorous and exhibit both scavenging and active hunting behaviors. In the spring, they can be seen floating on rivers, such as the Bow River, sipping emerging insects from the water's surface. They often repeat this feeding pattern along the same stretch of river.

Reproduction

The species breeds in colonies, with nests either grounded or floating. The typical clutch consists of two or three eggs, which are incubated for about three weeks.

Naming

The Franklin's gull is named in honor of Sir John Franklin, an Arctic explorer who led an expedition in 1823 during which the first specimen was collected.

Conservation status

The IUCN Red List classifies the Franklin's gull as Least Concern, indicating that it currently does not face any significant threats to its population.