Franklin's Gull (species: Leucophaeus pipixcan) in Peruvian Birds (Gaia Guide)
Peruvian Birds > Animalia > Bilateria > Deuterostomia > Chordata > Vertebrata > Gnathostomata > Tetrapoda > Aves > Charadriiformes > Laridae > Larinae > Leucophaeus > Leucophaeus pipixcan (gallery)
Leucophaeus pipixcan
Franklin's Gull


©Tom Tarrant: Franklin's Gull (Leucophaeus pipixcan)

©Rian Castillo: Franklin's Gull (Leucophaeus pipixcan)

©Tom Benson: Franklin's Gull (Leucophaeus pipixcan)

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Kingdom Animalia
Phylum Chordata
Class Aves
Order Charadriiformes
Family Laridae
Genus Leucophaeus
Species Leucophaeus pipixcan
Status least concern

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Colours

                   

Distinguishing features

The 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. (Wikipedia)

Size

  • Up to 40 cm (Length of specimen)

Wingspan

  • Up to 95 cm

Synonyms

Similar taxa

Distribution


©Atlas of Living Australia: Australian distribution: Franklin's Gull (Leucophaeus pipixcan)

Distribution and habitat preferences

It breeds in central provinces of Canada and adjacent states of the northern United States. It is a migratory bird, wintering in Argentina, the Caribbean, Chile and Peru. (Wikipedia)

Local abundance

  • Australia: vagrant

Web resources

References

  • Simpson, K., N. Day and P. Trusler (2004). Field Guide to Birds of Australia: 7th Edition Penguin Group (Australia), Camberwell, Victoria.