Black-legged Kittiwake
Rissa tridactyla
The Black-legged Kittiwake (Rissa tridactyla) is a common skimmers, noddies, terns, and gull found in 69 countries, weighing about 416 g. The black-legged kittiwake is a seabird species in the gull family Laridae.
About the Black-legged Kittiwake
The black-legged kittiwake is a seabird species in the gull family Laridae. This species was first described by Carl Linnaeus in his landmark 1758 10th edition of Systema Naturae as Larus tridactylus. The English name is derived from its call, a shrill 'kittee-wa-aaake, kitte-wa-aaake'. In North America, this species is known as the black-legged kittiwake to differentiate it from the red-legged kittiwake, but in Europe, where it is the only member of the genus, it is often known just as kittiwake.
Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
How to identify it
The red-legged kittiwake is the only other species in the genus Rissa and can be differentiated from its counterpart by its red legs, as the name suggests. The head of the red-legged kittiwake is slightly smaller and bears a shorter bill. The chicks of the Pacific black-legged kittiwake and red-legged kittiwake cannot be distinguished during their youngest downy phase. Voice: The kittiwake is named after its call that resembles a long "kit-ti-wake". Apart from their typical call, kittiwakes have a wide array of calls. Their greeting call is used by the two members of a pair when meeting at the nest after an absence of one or both members. Before and during copulation, the female will often call by making a series of short high pitched "squeak".
What the Black-legged Kittiwake sounds like
Where it lives
Recorded as a rare visitor in India, Tunisia, French Guiana, Kuwait, Costa Rica, Puerto Rico, Venezuela, Georgia, Mongolia, Luxembourg.
When to see it
The Black-legged Kittiwake can be seen all year round, with peak activity in June. It is a resident species across most of its range.
Easily confused with
Quick questions
- How do you identify a Black-legged Kittiwake?
- The red-legged kittiwake is the only other species in the genus Rissa and can be differentiated from its counterpart by its red legs, as the name suggests. Full identification notes are on this page.
- How big is a Black-legged Kittiwake?
- The Black-legged Kittiwake is a large sized bird weighing about 416 g.
- Where can you see a Black-legged Kittiwake?
- The Black-legged Kittiwake occurs in 69 countries, including the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada, Norway and Sweden.
- What does a Black-legged Kittiwake sound like?
- You can listen to 2 field recordings of the Black-legged Kittiwake on this page, contributed to xeno-canto under open licences.
- What birds look similar to a Black-legged Kittiwake?
- The Black-legged Kittiwake is most easily confused with the Red-legged Kittiwake.
- Is the Black-legged Kittiwake endangered?
- The Black-legged Kittiwake is listed as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List.
Learn the Black-legged Kittiwake for real
BeakBrain drills you on photos and calls until you can greet this bird by name in the field. Free to play, on any device.
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