Franklin's Gull, Larus pipixcan

First-winter non-breeding plumage	Franklin's Gull Larus pipixcan Charadriiformes; Laridae The prairie counterpart of the Laughing Gull; breeds in the plains states of the U.S. interior where it feeds on insects disturbed from plowed land; normally migrates well south of the U.S. to winter; rare vagrant elsewhere. Woodbridge Lake, Irvine, Orange County, CA. 12-29-2014. All photos © John C. Avise. Click on images for larger versions Web design by Peter J. Bryant Back to Birds of Orange County, California Back to Natural History of Orange County, California
Black head is fading	On the rocks
Drinking	Stretching
Black legs and feet	Head portrait; note the broken eye-ring
Brown on wings of first-year bird	Posing for a portrait