North American field guide
Black-legged Kittiwake
Rissa tridactyla
Also known as:Kittiwake
Identification
Field notes
43 cm (17") Small seagoing gull that nests in large cliff colonies; winters at sea. Rarely seen from shore on the east coast, more often seen from west coast. White head, underparts and tail; gray mantle; pitch black wing tips with no white spots; dark eyes; unmarked pale yellow bill; black legs.
Winter adult similar but has dark gray smudge behind eye.
Song: raucous "kckekek" and "kittewake".
Details in the field
Photo gallery
Watch and learn
Videos
Black legged Kittiwake, FullHD JH1RNZ
Credit: JH1RNZdrieteenmeeuw - Rissa tridactyla - Black-legged Kittiwake
Credit: Ruurd BoonstraNesting Kittewake Gulls SF1929
Credit: WOWstockfootage - LibraryGaviota Tridactila (Rissa tridactyla)
Credit: Delfin GonzalezBird Advisor Identification rules 1 variant · 1 rule
These are the observation paths the Bird Advisor can use to identify this species. Each rule is an alternative match.
Black-legged Kittiwake
1 ruleRule 1 11 criteria · confidence 1
- What colour were the LEGS or FEET ?
- Gray, or blue-gray · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
- What colour were the WING TIPS ?
- Black or dark gray · Unknown
- What SHAPE was the TAIL ?
- Square or slightly notched at the end · Rounded at the end · Unknown
- What colour was the BACK ?
- White, or pale (grayish-white) · Gray, or blue-gray · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
- What colour was the BREAST ?
- White, or pale (grayish-white) · Unknown
- What SHAPE was the BILL ?
- Straight and thick · Hooked · Unknown
- What LENGTH was the BILL ?
- Short · Medium · Unknown
- What colour were the EYES ?
- Red, orange or rusty · Brown or blackish brown · Black or dark gray · Unknown
- What colour was the TOP of HEAD ?
- White, or pale (grayish-white) · Unknown
- How BIG was the bird ?
- Pigeon-sized · Crow-sized
- What TYPE of bird was seen ?
- Gull-like, or a Seabird