Adult plumage
Credit: jomilo

North American field guide

Ivory Gull

Pagophila eburnea

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Identification

Field notes

38-43 cm (15-17") Rocky shores and beaches of Arctic Ocean. Winters south to New England, may appear on Great Lakes. Only all white gull with black legs. Black bill with a yellow tip. Dark eyes.

Song: tern-like, harsh, shrill cries.

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Videos

2 videos
Bird Advisor Identification rules 1 variant 1 rule

These are the observation paths the Bird Advisor can use to identify this species. Each rule is an alternative match.

Ivory Gull

1 rule
Rule 1 12 criteria confidence 1
What colour were the LEGS or FEET ?
Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What colour were the WING TIPS ?
White or light gray · Unknown
What SHAPE was the TAIL ?
Square or slightly notched at the end · Rounded at the end · Unknown
What colour was the BACK ?
White, or pale (grayish-white) · Unknown
What colour was the BREAST ?
White, or pale (grayish-white) · Unknown
What SHAPE was the BILL ?
Straight and thick · Hooked · Unknown
What LENGTH was the BILL ?
Short · Medium · Unknown
What colour were the EYES ?
Brown or blackish brown · Black or dark gray · Unknown
What colour was the TOP of HEAD ?
White, or pale (grayish-white) · Unknown
How BIG was the bird ?
Pigeon-sized · Crow-sized
What TYPE of bird was seen ?
Gull-like, or a Seabird
WHERE was the bird seen ?
Northeastern Canada or United States · Northwestern Canada or United States