Franklin's Gull (Leucophaeus pipixcan) is in the Gulls, Terns, and Skimmers family (Laridae). Across the U.S., iNaturalist users have logged 7,319 research-grade observations of it in our sample, peaking in April.
Seasonal pattern in the national data: seasonal. Counts also reflect when people are out photographing, so compare months within a state rather than across states.
When to photograph Franklin's Gull: observations by month (U.S.)
About Franklin's Gull
The 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.From Wikipedia via iNaturalist — article, CC BY-SA.
Franklin's Gull by state
| State | Observations | Peak month | Main season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Texas | 2,289 | April | Apr–May |
| Utah | 774 | August | Apr–Sep |
| Kansas | 401 | October | Sep–Nov |
| Minnesota | 361 | September | Aug–Oct |
| Colorado | 343 | April | Apr–Apr |
| Oklahoma | 314 | April | Apr–May |
| California | 302 | May | Apr–Jul |
| Oregon | 280 | May | Apr–Aug |
| Idaho | 215 | May | Apr–Sep |
| South Dakota | 197 | August | Apr–Sep |
| Nebraska | 163 | October | Sep–Oct |
| Montana | 162 | June | May–Sep |
| North Dakota | 145 | July | Apr–Sep |
| New Mexico | 128 | April | Apr–May |
| Ohio | 124 | October | Sep–Oct |
| Arizona | 109 | April | Apr–May |
| Florida | 104 | December | Nov–Dec |
| Illinois | 103 | October | Sep–Oct |
| Washington | 99 | May | May–Sep |
| Louisiana | 87 | November | Oct–Dec |
| Iowa | 64 | October | Oct–Oct |
| Wyoming | 61 | May | Apr–Sep |
| Missouri | 58 | October | Sep–Oct |
| Maryland | 47 | September | Aug–Sep |
| Mississippi | 46 | October | Oct–Dec |
| Wisconsin | 45 | May | May–May |
| Indiana | 33 | October | Oct–Oct |
| New York | 30 | December | Nov–Dec |
| Alaska | 29 | May | May–Jun |
| Michigan | 24 | November | Oct–Nov |
| Tennessee | 24 | November | Oct–Nov |
| North Carolina | 21 | November | Nov–Dec |
| Nevada | 20 | July | Jun–Jul |
| New Jersey | 19 | June | Jun–Jun |
| Hawaii | 18 | April | Apr–Apr |
| Pennsylvania | 14 | October | Oct–Oct |
| Alabama | 12 | October | Oct–Nov |
| Georgia | 12 | November | Nov–Dec |
| Massachusetts | 10 | June | Jun–Jun |
| Arkansas | 8 | November | Nov–Nov |
Main season = months with at least 30% of the state's peak-month count.
Related birds (Gulls, Terns, and Skimmers)
Ring-billed Gull
Laughing Gull
Western Gull
American Herring Gull
Royal Tern
Forster's Tern
California Gull
Caspian Tern
Photography tips
- Use a fast shutter (1/2000 s or faster) for birds in flight.
- Focus on the eye and shoot at the bird's eye level.
- Approach slowly and stop if the bird changes behavior; never bait or flush birds.
- Morning activity peaks in the first two hours after sunrise.
FAQ
When is the best time to photograph Franklin's Gull?
Nationally, April has the most observations, with the main season from April to May.
Where is Franklin's Gull most often seen?
The most observations come from Texas, Utah, Kansas.