Juvenile Franklin’s Gull
For me looking at the proverbial flock of gulls, resulted in a brain fog and to simplify my feathered world, every gull was one of two species. Once we recognized Bonaparte’s Gull and the Red-Billed Gull, I thought the identification problem was solved. Not a chance! There were still 14 more species of gulls to master. To further confuse the matter, there was one gull that looked so much like Bonaparte’s Gull, I had considered a trip to the optometrist. Camera in hand, it was time of course to snap a few photos and truly look at the gull in question.
Slightly larger than Bonaparte’s Gull, the Franklin’s Gull is strikingly similar in appearance. The Franklin’s has the black head, sports white crescents above and below the eye, all added tot he upper grey body and similar reddish legs. However, the difference can be found when looking at the bill, which is reddish-orange un hue, thicker, and appears shorter. The white eye crescents are larger and more noticeable. One other colour variation is worth noting. Breeding plumage can include a pinkish tone in the feathers on the abdomen and chest. Non-breeding plumage at times will hold that colour, giving it the nickname “rosy dove”. A final natural helper for identification is to look for white spots on the tips of the primary feathers. To confuse the birder, the juvenile Franklin’s are brown toned on the upper body, have a black band on the tail but do not have the white spots on the primary feathers.
Juvenile Franklin’s Gull
Franklin’s Gulls have a notably smaller breeding range in Canada, and nesting habits are different from Bonaparte’s Gull. Franklin’s nest on floating vegetation, often anchored to the bottom. Mating pairs nest close to one another, and at times steal nesting materials from one another. During the raising of the young, these omnivorous gulls enjoy a potpourri of sumptuous food. Included are grasshoppers, flies, midges, dragonflies, leeches, crayfish, minnows and the odd mouse. Most food is caught in flight. These gulls will also spin around in the water, creating a vortex to bring prey closer to the surface.
Peigan Trail Gull Pond
Romantic to a fault, the male will sit on floating vegetation, calling to females. When one lands, the male turns away from the female, and erects its neck feathers. The female imitates the behavior’s, alternating with the male. Eventually she calls for food, which the male regurgitates for his mate. Well, this can only lead to one conclusion, and I leave that to your imagination!
The Famous Pink Belly
Very sensitive to human disturbance and the loss of habitat, the Franklin’s Gull numbers have declined by 76% between 1968 – 2015. You may ask, is this a bird named after Benjamin Franklin? History provides the answer. This gull is named after explorer extraordinaire, the ill-fated, Sir John Franklin. Ornithologist, Sir John Richardson identified the gull as a distinct species and selected its name. Your challenge? Spot both a Franklin’s and a Bonaparte’s Gull
