Franklin's Gull

Leucophaeus pipixcan

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Brief #

Body is white and its back and wings are dark grey. The wings have black tips, bill and legs are red.

Synonyms #

  • Gaviota pipizcan (Spanish)

Red List Status #

The Franklin's Gull is unlikely to become extinct in the near future.
Find out more about IUCN's Red List program here

Description #

Summer adult's body is white and its back and wings are much darker grey than all other gulls of similar size except the larger laughing gull. The wings have black tips with an adjacent white band. The bill and legs are red. The black hood of the breeding adult is mostly lost in winter. Young birds are similar to the adult but have less developed hoods and lack the white wing band. They take three years to reach maturity.

Measurements #

Length: 32 - 36 cm
Wingspan: 85 - 95 cm
Weight: 230 - 300 g

Similar species #