Franklin's Gull

Overview

Franklin's gull (Leucophaeus pipixcan) is a small gull species named in honour of the Arctic explorer Sir John Franklin. It breeds in central Canada and the northern United States, with a population estimated between 1,000,000 and 1,490,000 individuals.

Identification

• Body length of 12.6–14.2 in (32–36 cm) with a wingspan of 33.5–37.4 in (85–95 cm).
• White body with a back and wings that are much darker grey than other gulls of similar size.
• Red bill and legs.
• Black hood in breeding adults, which is mostly lost in winter, and wings with black tips adjacent to a white band.

Habitat

Breeds in colonies near prairie lakes in the central provinces of Canada and adjacent states of the northern United States. It is a migratory bird that winters in Argentina, the Caribbean, Chile, and Peru, though it is occasionally recorded as a rare vagrant in Europe, Africa, and Asia.

Diet

An omnivore that scavenges and seeks small prey, including terrestrial and aquatic insects. In spring, large groups float on rivers to sip emerging insect hatch, returning repeatedly to the same section of water. During the breeding season, they also feed aerially on swarming insects.

Did you know?

The genus name Leucophaeus is derived from Ancient Greek words meaning 'white' and 'dusky', while the specific name pipixcan is a Nahuatl term for a type of gull.