Franklin's Gull

Leucophaeus pipixcan

Introduction

Franklin's Gull is a small, black-hooded gull that breeds in large colonies at marshland sites within the North American prairies. It is a rare visitor to Britain, with some individuals staying many months.

The floating nest of the Franklin's Gull gradually sinks as the material below the water surface decays, so requires continual maintenance and both parents will add new nest material daily.

Key Stats

Status

Very rare

Weight

282.5g

Seasonality

<1%

BTO Records

1.1k records

Population and distribution stats for:

No data

No current data

No current data

No data

No current data

0% no change

Status and Trends

Population size, trends and patterns of distribution based on BTO and partnership surveys and atlasses with data collected by BTO volunteers.

Conservation Status

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This species can be found on the following statutory and conservation listings and schedules.

IUCN Red List of Threatened Species (global)

Least Concern

Schedule 1 Licence required (to disturb)*

Birds Directive Annex 1

* A guide only. Check details with the original legislation, especially those marked with an asterisk. See About Birdfacts for more information.

Population Size

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BOU Category

Source

First Record*

Hampshire, 1970

* First documented occurrence. Most species undoubtedly occurred before this. See About Birdfacts for more information.

Population Change

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Population trends of this scarce species are not routinely monitored.

Distribution

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This species is a rare vagrant and was recorded during Bird Atlas 2007–11 as shown on the map.

Occupied 10-km squares in UK

These figures come from Bird Atlas 2007 and indicate how widespread a species is.

No. occupied in winter

% occupied in winter

0.2%

Bird Atlas distribution maps show where bird species breed or winter in Britain and Ireland. For breeding maps, larger dots indicate higher certainty the species bred in that area.

Click the map to enlarge,
or view it on Bird Atlas Mapstore.

Breeding Distribution for Franklin's Gull

Click the map to enlarge,
or view it on Bird Atlas Mapstore.

To view and download up-to-date distribution information aggregated from across BTO and partnership surveys and schemes, see our data holdings on the NBN Atlas.

Distribution Change

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This vagrant is too rarely reported to map distribution change.

Seasonality

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This species has been too rarely reported to BirdTrack during 2011–22 to properly assess seasonality.

Movement

Information about Franklin's Gull movements and migration based on online bird portals (e.g. BirdTrack), Ringing schemes and tracking studies.

Britain & Ireland movement

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View a summary of recoveries in the Online Ringing Report

European movements

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EuroBirdPortal uses birdwatcher's records, such as those logged in BirdTrack to map the flows of birds as they arrive and depart Europe. See maps for this species here.

Biology

Lifecycle and body size information for Franklin's Gull, including statistics on nesting, eggs and lifespan based on BTO ringing and nest recording data.

Survival and Longevity

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Survival is shown as the proportion of birds surviving from one year to the next and is derived from bird ringing data. It can also be used to estimate how long birds typically live.

Classification, names and codes

Taxonomy, names and species codes for Franklin's Gull

Classification and Codes

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Order: Charadriiformes
Family: Laridae
Scientific name: Leucophaeus pipixcan
Authority: Wagler, 1831

BTO 2-letter code: FG
BTO 5-letter code: FRAGU
Euring code number: 5770

Alternate species names

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Catalan: gavina de Franklin
Czech: racek vnitrozemský
Danish: Præriemåge
Dutch: Franklins Meeuw
Estonian: preeriakajakas
Finnish: preerianaurulokki
French: Mouette de Franklin

German: Präriemöwe
Hungarian: prérisirály
Icelandic: Sléttumáfur
Irish: Sléibhín Franklin
Italian: Gabbiano di Franklin
Latvian: preriju kaija
Lithuanian: prerinis kiras
Norwegian: Franklinmåke

Polish: mewa preriowa
Portuguese: gaivota-de-franklin / gaivota-das-pradarias
Slovak: cajka prériová
Slovenian: prerijski galeb
Spanish: Gaviota pipizcan
Swedish: präriemås
Welsh: Gwylan Franklin

More Evidence

More evidence from Conservation Evidence.com

Partners

Birdfacts is based on data collected by volunteers participating in surveys that are organised and funded by BTO, RSPB, Esmée Fairbairn Foundation, JNCC and other partners.