Black-legged Kittiwake Photo Gallery
Breeding adult
Small gull with short black legs. Breeding adults have a thin yellow bill.
© Christoph Moning / Macaulay LibraryFinnmark, April 05, 2011Nonbreeding 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.
© Matthew Grube / Macaulay LibraryCalifornia, January 20, 2019Nonbreeding adult
Wings are more rounded than other gull species, and they tend to beat their wings more rapidly. Note the solid black wingtips.
© Evan Lipton / Macaulay LibraryMassachusetts, November 10, 2015Breeding 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, 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, 2017Compare with Similar Species
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Species in This Family
Gulls, Terns, and Skimmers(Order: Charadriiformes, Family: Laridae)
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