The Ivory Gull is an all-white gull of the High Arctic that rarely strays south to the US, usually after severe ice conditions force it out of its normal range. It is closely associated with sea ice and follows polar bears and feeding seals to scavenge remains. First-year birds are white with black flecking on the wings. Climate change is shrinking its sea-ice habitat.
Habitat
Arctic sea ice; rare visitor to Great Lakes and Atlantic Coast in winter
Diet
Fish, carrion from seal kills, and polar bear scraps
How common
Rare
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