Black-legged Kittiwake
NameBlack-legged Kittiwake
Common NameBlack-legged Kittiwake
Scientific NameRissa tridactyla
FamilyLaridae
Wingspan (cm)95
Length (cm)39
Weight (g)410
Plumage DetailsAdults have a pure white head, neck, and underparts. The back and upperwings are grey, with the wingtips appearing solid black, lacking the white 'mirrors' found on many other gull species. The bill is yellow, and the legs are black.
Vocalization / CallKnown for its distinctive, nasal 'kitti-wake' call, often repeated. They also produce various squawks and growls, particularly when in breeding colonies.
Primary Dietpiscivore
Primary Habitatscoastal
Conservation Statusvulnerable
Geographic RangeBreeds in large colonies on cliffs along the coasts of the North Atlantic and North Pacific Oceans, including Arctic regions. Winters offshore in temperate and subarctic waters.
Identifying Featuresblack legs, yellow bill, clean white head and body, grey back and upperwings, solid black wingtips (no white mirrors), distinctive 'kitti-wake' call
Description
The Black-legged Kittiwake is a medium-sized gull characterized by its clean white head and body, grey back, and distinctive black legs. These highly pelagic birds spend most of their lives at sea, returning to steep coastal cliffs only for breeding.
