Ivory Gull
Image: <a href="//commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:AWeith" title="User:AWeith">Andreas Weith</a> (CC BY-SA 4.0)
NameIvory Gull
Common NameIvory Gull
Scientific NamePagophila eburnea
FamilyLaridae
Wingspan (cm)108
Length (cm)43
Weight (g)575
Plumage DetailsAdults are entirely pure white with black legs and a dark eye. The bill is yellowish-grey with a darker tip. Juveniles have variable amounts of black spotting on the face, neck, and wings, which fades with age.
Vocalization / CallVocalizations include harsh, high-pitched 'kree-kree' calls, often described as more strident than other gulls, along with various squawks and growls.
Primary Dietomnivore
Primary Habitatsarctic ice floes, tundra, coastal cliffs
Conservation Statusnear-threatened
Geographic RangeCircumpolar Arctic, breeding on remote islands and coasts of Canada, Greenland, Svalbard, and Russia. It winters further south within the pack ice zone.
Identifying Featurespure white plumage, black legs, dark eye, yellowish-grey bill with dark tip, high arctic habitat
Description
The Ivory Gull is a medium-sized, pure white gull found exclusively in the high Arctic, often associated with pack ice and polynyas. It is known for its striking appearance against the ice and its preference for remote, ice-covered marine environments, making it a highly sought-after species for bird photographers.
