Kittiwake

Rissa tridactyla

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Brief #

It has a white head and body, grey back, grey wings tipped solid black, black legs and a yellow bill.

Synonyms #

  • Gaviota tridáctila (Spanish)
  • Gaivota tridáctila (Galician)

Red List Status #

The Kittiwake is at high risk of unnatural (human-caused) extinction without further human intervention.
Find out more about IUCN's Red List program here

Description #

It has a white head and body, grey back, grey wings tipped solid black, black legs and a yellow bill. Occasional individuals have pinky-grey to reddish legs, inviting confusion with red-legged kittiwake. The inside of their mouth is also a characteristic feature of the species due to its rich red colour. In winter, this species acquires a dark grey smudge behind the eye and a grey hind-neck collar. The bill also turns a dusky-olive color. Juveniles differ from the adults in having a black 'W' band across the length of the wings and whiter secondary and primary feathers behind the black 'W', a black hind-neck collar and a black terminal band on the tail.

Measurements #

Length: 37 - 41 cm
Wingspan: 0.91 - 1.05 m
Weight: 305 - 525 g

Similar species #