Black-legged Kittiwake
Breeding adult
Small gull with short black legs. Breeding adults have a thin yellow bill.
© Ian Davies | Macaulay LibraryFinnmark, June 14, 2015Nonbreeding adult
Nonbreeding adults have a black smudge behind the eye, but retain the yellow bill. Note the short black legs.
© Matt Brady | Macaulay LibraryCalifornia, February 08, 2012Adult and juvenile
Adults have clean gray backs while juveniles have a black bar on the wing that becomes a bold "M" pattern in flight.
© Galatee Films | Macaulay LibraryJuly 01, 2000Not all videos have soundImmature
Immature Black-legged Kittiwakes have a striking "M" pattern on the back and a black mark across the back of the neck. Note black terminal band on the tail.
© Evan Lipton | Macaulay LibraryMassachusetts, November 10, 2015Breeding adult
Wings are more rounded than other gull species, and they tend to beat their wings more rapidly. Note the solid black wingtips.
© Dorian Anderson | Macaulay LibraryNewfoundland and Labrador, July 02, 2013Breeding adult
Flies with stiff and rapid wingbeats. Note the small amount of black on the tips of the wings.
© Christoph Moning | Macaulay LibrarySvalbard, June 09, 2015Breeding adult
Small gull that nests in colonies on steep cliffs. Note the small yellow bill and pale gray back.
© Ian Davies | Macaulay LibraryFinnmark, June 17, 2015Habitat
Nests on cliff ledges of offshore islands, sea stacks, or inaccessible areas of coastal mainland. Spends the winter at sea.
© Nick Dorian | Macaulay LibraryNorthern Ireland, August 15, 2017