Ivory Gull

Pagophila eburnea

Introduction

Probably the most northerly breeding bird species and normally found around ice-floes, one or two individuals are recorded each winter, often near fishing harbours.

Key Stats

Status

Very rare

Weight

552.5g

Seasonality

BTO Records

485 records

Population and distribution stats for:

No data

No current data

No current data

No data

No current data

50% expansion

Status and Trends

Population size, trends and patterns of distribution based on BTO and partnership surveys and atlasses with data collected by BTO volunteers.

Conservation Status

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This species can be found on the following statutory and conservation listings and schedules.

Species of European Conservation Concern

Vulnerable

IUCN Red List of Threatened Species (global)

Near Threatened

Schedule 1 Licence required (to disturb)*

Birds Directive Annex 1

* A guide only. Check details with the original legislation, especially those marked with an asterisk. See About BirdFacts for more information.

Population Size

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BOU Category

Source

First Record*

Shetland, 1822

* First documented occurrence. Most species undoubtedly occurred before this. See About Birdfacts for more information.

Population Change

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Population trends of this scarce species are not routinely monitored.

Distribution

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This species is a rare vagrant and was recorded during Bird Atlas 2007–11 as shown on the map.

Occupied 10-km squares in UK

These figures come from Bird Atlas 2007 and indicate how widespread a species is.

No. occupied in winter

% occupied in winter

0.1%

Bird Atlas distribution maps show where bird species breed or winter in Britain and Ireland. For breeding maps, larger dots indicate higher certainty the species bred in that area.

Winter distribution <br/> 2007/08–10/11 — Winter distribution
2007/08–10/11

Click the map to enlarge,
or view it on Bird Atlas Mapstore.

To view and download up-to-date distribution information aggregated from across BTO and partnership surveys and schemes, see our data holdings on the NBN Atlas.

European Distribution Map

European Breeding Bird Atlas 2

Distribution Change

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This vagrant is too rarely reported to map distribution change.

Change in occupied 10-km squares in the UK

These figures come from Bird Atlas 2007-11 and indicate by how much occupied areas have expanded or contracted over recent decades.

% change in range in winter (1981–84 to 2007–11)

50%

Seasonality

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This species has been too rarely reported to BirdTrack during 2011–22 to properly assess seasonality.

Movement

Information about Ivory Gull movements and migration based on online bird portals (e.g. BirdTrack), Ringing schemes and tracking studies.

Britain & Ireland movement

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View a summary of recoveries in the Online Ringing Report

European movements

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EuroBirdPortal uses birdwatcher's records, such as those logged in BirdTrack to map the flows of birds as they arrive and depart Europe. See maps for this species here.

Biology

Lifecycle and body size information for Ivory Gull, including statistics on nesting, eggs and lifespan based on BTO ringing and nest recording data.

Survival and Longevity

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Survival is shown as the proportion of birds surviving from one year to the next and is derived from bird ringing data. It can also be used to estimate how long birds typically live.

Classification, names and codes

Taxonomy, names and species codes for Ivory Gull

Classification and Codes

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Order: Charadriiformes
Family: Laridae
Scientific name: Pagophila eburnea
Authority: Phipps, 1774

BTO 2-letter code: IV
BTO 5-letter code: IVOGU
Euring code number: 6040

Alternate species names

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Catalan: gavina d'ivori
Czech: racek snežní
Danish: Ismåge
Dutch: Ivoormeeuw
Estonian: vandelkajakas
Finnish: jäälokki
French: Mouette blanche

German: Elfenbeinmöwe
Hungarian: hósirály
Icelandic: Ísmáfur
Irish: Faoileán Eabhartha
Italian: Gabbiano eburneo
Latvian: sniega kaija
Lithuanian: snieginis kiras
Norwegian: Ismåke

Polish: mewa modrodzioba
Portuguese: gaivota-marfim
Slovak: cajka biela
Slovenian: beli galeb
Spanish: Gaviota marfileña
Swedish: ismås
Welsh: Gwylan Ifori

More Evidence

More evidence from Conservation Evidence.com

Partners

Birdfacts is based on data collected by volunteers participating in surveys that are organised and funded by BTO, RSPB, Esmée Fairbairn Foundation, JNCC and other partners.

BTO

Esmée Fairbairn Foundation

JNCC

RSPB

Citing BirdFacts

If you wish to cite particular content in this page (e.g. a specific value) it is best to use the original sources as linked in the page. For a more general citation of the whole page please use: BTO (20XX) BirdFacts Species: profiles of birds occurring in the United Kingdom. BTO, Thetford (www.bto.org/birdfacts, accessed on xx/xx/xxxx).

Find a Species

Ivory Gull

Ivory Gull

Introduction

Key Stats

Status and Trends

Conservation Status

Population Size

Population Change

Distribution

Occupied 10-km squares in UK

European Distribution Map

Distribution Change

Change in occupied 10-km squares in the UK

Seasonality

Movement

Britain & Ireland movement

European movements

Biology

Survival and Longevity

Classification, names and codes

Classification and Codes

Alternate species names

More Evidence

More evidence from Conservation Evidence.com

Partners

Citing BirdFacts

Search by common or scientific name

BTO – Birds Science People