Ivory Gull vs Sabine's Gull

Ivory Gull and Sabine's Gull are both small gulls, but they can be distinguished by their plumage and bill characteristics. The Ivory Gull is entirely white with a black bill, while Sabine's Gull has a distinctive black hood and a black bill with a yellow tip.

Look for the all-white plumage and black bill of the Ivory Gull. In contrast, Sabine's Gull has a black hood, gray back, and a black bill with a yellow tip. Sabine's Gull also has a distinctive notched tail.

Both species are similar in size, but the Ivory Gull appears slightly bulkier.

Ivory Gull is entirely white, whereas Sabine's Gull has a striking black hood and a gray back with a white triangle on the wings.

Ivory Gulls are often seen in pack ice habitats and are aggressive feeders, while Sabine's Gulls exhibit behaviors more akin to shorebirds and terns, such as distraction displays and feeding on mudflats.

Ivory Gulls are typically found in Arctic pack ice, whereas Sabine's Gulls are more often associated with coastal and open sea environments during migration.

Vocalizations are not well-documented for field differentiation, but Sabine's Gull has calls more similar to terns.