Franklin's Gull
41-43 cm (16-17") Common along coast, rare inland except at Salton Sea. Largest of the black-headed gulls - crow-sized. Black head with broken white eye-ring; red bill; white underparts and tail; dark gray mantle blends into black wing tips. Similar Franklin's Gull has a white wing band between mantle and black wing tips.
Winter adult similar, but head white with smudge of gray behind eye, bill black.
Song: loud laugh.
Videos
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Credit: Brian Kushner
Images
Credit: Larry Bond
Credit: surrph
Credit: Roy Niswanger
Credit: Roy Niswanger
Credit: Dan Irizarry
Credit: das_miller
Credit: Laura Gooch
Credit: Carol Foil
Distribution Maps
Laughing Gull winter distribution map
Laughing Gull distribution map