Black-legged Kittiwake

Black-legged Kittiwake, breeding adult at its nest; Pribilof Is., Bering Sea, AK; July

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Black-legged Kittiwake, non-breeding adult; Playa Del Rey, CA; January

Black-legged Kittiwake, first-winter plumage; Playa Del Rey, CA; January

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1. Description
2. Sound
3. Conservation Status
4. Other Names
5. Cool Facts
6. Full detailed species account

A small, cliff-nesting gull, the Black-legged Kittiwake breeds along northern coasts and winters out at sea.

Description

• Medium-sized to small gull.
• Small, unmarked yellow bill.
• Head and underparts white.
• Back medium gray.
• Wingtips black, without white spots, as if dipped in ink.
• Legs black.

• Size: 38-41 cm (15-16 in)
• Wingspan: 94 cm (37 in)
• Weight: 305-525 g (10.77-18.53 ounces)

Sex Differences

Sexes look alike.

Sound

Call a high, nasal "kitti-weeeik," or "e-e-eh." Usually silent in winter.

Conservation Status

Populations appear stable or increasing.

Other Names

Mouette tridactyle (French)

Cool Facts

• The hind toe on the foot of the Black-legged Kittiwake is reduced to a tiny bump, giving the bird its scientific name tridactyla, meaning "three-toed" (instead of four on each foot).
• More predation occurs on Black-legged Kittiwake nests in years of scarce food because the nests are more likely to be left unattended as the parents search for food.

• The Black-legged Kittiwake typically nests on cliff ledges, but will occasionally use man-made structures. It has been known to nest on buildings and shipwrecks.

Sources used to construct this page:

Baird, P. H. 1994. Black-legged Kittiwake (Rissa tridactyla). In The Birds of North America, No. 92 (A. Poole and F. Gill, Eds.). Philadelphia: The Academy of Natural Sciences; Washington, D.C.: The American Ornithologists? Union.