Understanding ambient noise effects on foraging ecology of endangered killer whales is a necessary step toward predicting population-level consequences of acoustic disturbance. However, this has been limited by the difficulty of identifying prey capture which typically occurs out of sight, and by the challenge of obtaining a sufficient range of noise conditions. We addressed these problems using sound and movement data from suction cup-attached archival tags deployed on 52 Northern resident and endangered Southern resident killer whales sampled during overlapping field efforts. We measured broadband ambient noise levels above low-frequency cut-offs that minimized flow noise, and quantified foraging behavior using established acoustic and movement signatures to detect prey capture events. Statistical models revealed significant effects of noise level on searching, pursuit and capture outcomes, including the likelihood that a prey pursuit dive was aborted. We discuss the utility of broadening the range of noise level conditions available by sampling from multiple populations within overlapping geographic regions, and highlight the implications of noise-induced foraging interference on two killer whale populations with different population trajectories. Finally, we suggest future applications of this comparative approach to foster a greater understanding of the population consequences of acoustic disturbance in killer whales.