Cloebird 30 Posted December 8, 2018 Could this one gull be anything other than a Franklins? It has no bold white eye-arc. It’s eyes are red if you look close. Taken May 7 at Reed Lake, SK. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Charlie Spencer 411 Posted December 8, 2018 This'll be fun. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
meghann 92 Posted December 8, 2018 Everything but the missing eye crescents looks right for Franklin's, so I have no idea. 🤷♀️ Just a weird one? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Cloebird 30 Posted December 8, 2018 Red eyes also meghann? I couldn’t find anything that said otherwise but they normally look dark to me. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
akiley 422 Posted December 9, 2018 Any more photos? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
meghann 92 Posted December 9, 2018 4 hours ago, Cloebird said: Red eyes also meghann? I couldn’t find anything that said otherwise but they normally look dark to me. 🤷♀️🤷♀️🤷♀️ I just don't know of any other gulls with a black head and white spots on the primaries like that. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
akiley 422 Posted December 9, 2018 1 hour ago, meghann said: 🤷♀️🤷♀️🤷♀️ I just don't know of any other gulls with a black head and white spots on the primaries like that. Yes, there's no other species that shows these characteristics. Options here are either an aberrant Franklin's or a hybrid with another species. I'll do a little research. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
meghann 92 Posted December 9, 2018 We used to have a gull guy back in the day named Aberrant. It's a bummer when we lose specialized members like that! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
akiley 422 Posted December 9, 2018 There was a very similar bird posted to the North American Gulls Facebook page a few years ago, red eye and all. One suggestion was Ring-billed x Franklin's. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
akiley 422 Posted December 9, 2018 I'm puzzled by this bird. I don't know what to do honestly. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Cloebird 30 Posted December 9, 2018 Yes, I'm puzzled too. That's interesting about the the Gulls Facebook page. I'll do some further research on the suggestion. Fabulous! It gives me a direction. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
egosnell2002 45 Posted December 10, 2018 What the... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
egosnell2002 45 Posted December 10, 2018 You know what, after looking even harder at it, and talking with some friends, I've decided I think it's just a Franklin's missing the eye arcs. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Cloebird 30 Posted December 10, 2018 Do Franklins gulls normally have red eyes? Both his eyes are red. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
egosnell2002 45 Posted December 10, 2018 I've never experienced their eye colour first hand, but all the online pictures show a reddish-brown colour Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
