Prairie marshes of western, northern Alberta and east-central Oregon to southwestern Manitoba (west-central, east-central Canada) and northwestern Minnesota

North America

Quick facts

Weight: 280 g
Diet: Omnivores
Family: Laridae
Order: Charadriiformes
Habitat: Wetland, lake & coast

How to identify

Similar birds

Not Evaluated

Hartlaub’s Gull

Chroicocephalus hartlaubii

Not Evaluated

Silver Gull

Chroicocephalus novaehollandiae

Not Evaluated

Biology & behaviour

Diet

The Franklin’s Gull is a omnivore — it takes a broad, omnivorous diet of both plant and animal foods.

Behaviour

A bird of coastal habitats, it uses a wide range of foraging strategies.

Migration

The Franklin’s Gull is migratory, making regular seasonal journeys between its breeding and non-breeding ranges.

The Franklin’s Gull (Leucophaeus pipixcan) belongs to the Laridae family of the order Charadriiformes. It is found across North America. Its distribution covers NA prairie marshes of w, n Alberta and ec Oregon to sw Manitoba (wc, ec Canada) and nw Minnesota.

It is a large bird. Adults weighs around 280 g, with a wing length of about 27.9 cm and a tail of around 9.5 cm.

Songs & calls

Franklin’s Gull — Call

Recorded by Skyler Bol Licence: CC BY-NC-SA 4.0

Frequently asked questions

How big is the Franklin’s Gull?

The Franklin’s Gull is a large bird that weighs around 280 g.

Where does the Franklin’s Gull live?

The Franklin’s Gull is found across North America with a range covering NA prairie marshes of w, n Alberta and ec Oregon to sw Manitoba (wc, ec Canada) and nw Minnesota, where it is associated with wetlands, lakes and other open water.

What family does the Franklin’s Gull belong to?

The Franklin’s Gull (Leucophaeus pipixcan) belongs to the Laridae family, in the order Charadriiformes.

What does the Franklin’s Gull eat?

The Franklin’s Gull is a omnivore — it takes a broad, omnivorous diet of both plant and animal foods.

Does the Franklin’s Gull migrate?

The Franklin’s Gull is migratory, making regular seasonal journeys between its breeding and non-breeding ranges.

What sound does the Franklin’s Gull make?

1 real field recording of the Franklin’s Gull — including its call — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.