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Black-legged Kittiwake

Rissa tridactyla

Vulnerable (IUCN Red List)Gulls, Terns, and Skimmers
Black-legged Kittiwake, photographed by Hobbyfotowiki

Photo: Hobbyfotowiki · Wikimedia · CC0 1.0 (licence)

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Call and song

About the Black-legged Kittiwake

Small oceanic gull. Adults have solid black wingtips that look like they were dipped in ink. Also note translucent flight feathers, entirely yellow bill, and black legs. Nonbreeding birds have a dark ear patch and smudgy gray on the back of the neck. Immatures are boldly patterned with a black collar and “M” pattern on wings. Rather buoyant in flight, sometimes soaring in high arcs in windy conditions. Breeds at high latitudes across the Northern Hemisphere, primarily in large colonies on cliffs and other structures overhanging water. Spends the winter on the open ocean, sometimes seen from shore. Rare inland. Can gather in flocks during migration and winter, especially where food is abundant.

Species account: eBird.org, fetched 2025-12-26 · How these pages are made

Where it has been recorded

Recorded in 90 of the 253 countries we have eBird lists for. Each opens that country's checklist.

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