Sooty Gull vs White-eyed Gull

In short

The Sooty Gull and White-eyed Gull are similar in appearance but can be distinguished by the eye color and head pattern. Sooty Gulls have dark eyes and a more uniform head color, while White-eyed Gulls have a distinctive white eye-ring and a more contrasting head pattern.

Identification tips

• Eye color: Look for the white eye-ring in White-eyed Gull.
• Head pattern: Sooty Gull has a more uniform dark head, while White-eyed Gull has a more contrasting head pattern.
• Habitat and behavior: Both are coastal and similar in behavior, so focus on visual cues.

Size

Both species are similar in size, typical of medium-sized gulls.

Plumage

Sooty Gulls have a more uniform dark head, while White-eyed Gulls feature a contrasting white eye-ring and a slightly more patterned head. Both species have similar body plumage, with dark upperparts and lighter underparts.

Behaviour

Both species exhibit typical gull behavior, including scavenging and coastal foraging. No significant behavioral differences are noted.

Habitat

Both species are coastal, often found along shorelines and near human settlements. They share similar habitats, making habitat alone an unreliable distinguishing factor.

Voice

Vocalizations are not a reliable distinguishing feature between these two species, as they are quite similar.