Black-legged Kittiwake Similar Species Comparison
Main SpeciesBlack-legged Kittiwake
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 sound
Immature
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, 2017Similar SpeciesRed-legged Kittiwake
Adult
Red-legged Kittiwakes are very similar, but they have darker wings and back than Black-legged Kittiwakes. They also have a shorter and more blunt bill, and red legs.
© Moe Bertrand / Macaulay LibraryAlaska, July 08, 2016Similar SpeciesRed-legged Kittiwake
Adult
In flight adult Red-legged Kittiwakes have gray under the primaries, whereas Black-legged Kittiwakes have white.
© Stephan Lorenz / Macaulay LibraryAlaska, August 09, 2016Similar SpeciesRed-legged Kittiwake
Immature
Immature Red-legged Kittiwakes have a darker spot behind the eye and a darker gray back than Black-legged Kittiwakes.
© Dominique Lavoie / Macaulay LibraryAlaska, July 15, 2008Similar SpeciesBonaparte's Gull
Nonbreeding adult
In flight, adult Bonaparte's Gulls can be separated from Black-legged Kittiwakes by the white leading edge of the wing.
© Caleb Putnam / Macaulay LibraryMichigan, November 27, 2016Similar SpeciesBonaparte's Gull
First winter
First winter Bonaparte's Gulls lack the Black-legged Kittiwakes black mark across the back of the neck.
© Brandon Holden / Macaulay LibraryOntario, November 08, 2005Similar SpeciesBonaparte's Gull
First winter
In flight, first winter Bonaparte's Gulls have a black trailing edge on the wing, whereas Black-legged Kittiwakes of all ages have white trailing edges.
© Brendan Klick / Macaulay LibraryMichigan, September 09, 2017Similar SpeciesLittle Gull
Nonbreeding adult
Nonbreeding adult Little Gulls have pale gray wings unlike Black-legged Kittiwakes, which have black wing tips.
© Brandon Holden / Macaulay LibraryOntario, November 08, 2005Similar SpeciesLittle Gull
First summer
First summer Little Gulls lack the immature Black-legged Kittiwake's black collar across the back of the neck.
© Yann Kolbeinsson / Macaulay LibraryNorðurland eystraSimilar SpeciesRoss's Gull
Breeding adult
Ross's Gulls have a black bill and paler gray wings and back unlike Black-legged Kittiwakes, which have a yellow bill and darker gray wings and back.
© PC Smith / Macaulay LibraryNunavut, August 16, 2011Similar SpeciesRoss's Gull
First winter
First winter Ross's Gulls have a black M on their back like juvenile Black-legged Kittiwakes, but they lack the Black-legged Kittiwake's black collar.
© Ian Davies / Macaulay LibraryNew York, January 29, 2017Similar SpeciesLittle Gull
Juvenile
Juvenile Little Gulls could be confused with juvenile Black-legged Kittiwakes, but they lack the black line across the nape that Black-legged Kittiwakes have.
© Stephen Mirick / Macaulay LibraryMassachusetts, September 22, 2015Similar SpeciesShort-billed Gull
Breeding adult (American)
Short-billed Gulls are much larger with a longer neck and heavier body than Black-legged Kittiwakes.
© Andrew Spencer / Macaulay LibraryNorthwest Territories, June 07, 2014Rotate Your Device to Better Compare
Compare with Similar Species
Click on an image to compare
Species in This Family
Gulls, Terns, and Skimmers(Order: Charadriiformes, Family: Laridae)
Don't miss a thing! Join our email list
The Cornell Lab will send you updates about birds,
birding, and opportunities to help bird conservation.