Franklin’s gull

Franklin’s gull is a medium-sized gull with a dark gray back, a black hood, and bold white crescents above and below the eye. In spring the breast can carry a faint pink blush and the bill turns a deep red. It is sometimes called the prairie dove for its soft colours and its habit of following farm equipment.

Franklin’s gulls nest in colonies in prairie marshes, building floating nests in cattails and bulrushes. In Manitoba they arrive in spring, raise their young over the summer, and leave in the fall for one of the longest migrations of any gull, all the way to the coast of South America. They feed mostly on insects, often over fields and sloughs.

I like how a Franklin’s gull stands out in a row of ring-billed gulls, with that dark hood and red bill, like someone dressed for a different occasion.

To find out more about the Franklin’s gull and the places it lives, visit All About Birds.

Franklin’s gull Manitoba sightings

Where and when you can find the Franklin’s gull in Manitoba depends on the season and the habitat. You can see more species in the Manitoba birds section.

Back to Manitoba bird photography, or see the portfolio.