Skimmers, Noddies, Terns, and Gulls
Franklin’s Gull
Leucophaeus pipixcan
- Family
- Skimmers, Noddies, Terns, and Gulls (Laridae)
- Order
- Charadriiformes
Overview
Franklin's gull (Leucophaeus pipixcan) is a small (length 12.6–14.2 in, 32–36 cm) gull. The genus name Leucophaeus is from Ancient Greek leukos, "white", and phaios, "dusky". The specific pipixcan is a Nahuatl name for a type of gull. The English common name was given to commemorate the arctic explorer Sir John Franklin, who led an expedition in 1825 on which the type was collected.
Summary from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Range and habitat
Breeds prairie marshes of western and northern Alberta eastward to southwestern Manitoba, and southward from east-central Oregon to northwestern Minnesota; winters coasts from Ecuador (including Galapagos) to central Chile.
Range description: AviList Global Avian Checklist.
Sources and further reading
- Wikipedia: Franklin's gull
- eBird: sightings, maps and photos
- xeno-canto: sound recordings
- Birds of the World: full species account (subscription)
- BirdLife DataZone: status and threats
- IUCN Red List (threat status)
- AviList global checklist (taxonomy)
Last updated September 29, 2026.
