Franklin’s Gull is a small hooded gull that primary nests along lakes and marshes in the northern prairie regions of central Canada and north-central United States. In recent years they have expanded their breeding range to a few lakes in the Great Basin and Rocky Mountain regions. Among gulls they are one of the long-distance migrants. After nesting, they undergo a complete molting of their feathers and then fly south to the coast of Texas. From there they continue south along the Caribbean Coast of Mexico to the Isthmus of Tehuantepec. From there they make an overland flight across the Pacific Coast following the coast all the way to southern Peru and northern Chile. After spending the winter they undergo another complete feather molt, which is unique among gulls. This second molt is an adaptation so they can meet the demands of the 5,000 mile flights. After this molt they fly the same migration route in reverse. |
