Franklin's Gull vs Lava Gull

Franklin's Gull

Leucophaeus pipixcan

280 gCoastal

It breeds in central provinces of Canada and adjacent states of the northern United States. It is a migratory bird, wintering in Argentina, the Caribbean, Chile, and Peru. The summer adult's body is white and its back and wings are much darker grey than all other gulls of similar size except the larger laughing gull. The wings have black tips with an adjacent white band. The bill and legs are red. The black hood of the breeding adult is mostly lost in winter. Young birds are similar to the adult but have less developed hoods and lack the white wing band.

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Photo: tcantrell52 · CC BY 4.0

Lava Gull

Leucophaeus fuliginosus

Medium380 gCoastal

The lava gull is a distinctive gull, 51 to 55 cm (20–22 in) and weighs 380 g (13 oz). The adult plumage consists of a sooty brown to black head, which unlike other dark hooded gulls doesn't vary by season. The wings are dark gray with a contrasting white line on the leading edge, thought to play a function in displays and camouflage. Its dark gray body contrasts with a paler gray belly. The uppertail is white and grey lower down. The bill and legs are black, and the inside of the mouth is scarlet. It has white upper and lower eyebrows, with red lids. Immature gulls are generally dark brown.

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Photo: Zygy · CC0

Photos and recordings are credited to their authors under the licence shown. Full profiles: Franklin's Gull and Lava Gull.