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10

Black-legged Kittiwake

(Rissa tridactyla)
Alternate name(s): "Kittiwake"
German name(s): "Dreizehenmöwe"

Size: 37-42 cm; wing span: 0.9-1.05 m
Weight: 305-525 g

Similar
species

Description     Classification     Distribution     Sightings     Photos     Breeding     Nest     Eggs     Behaviour     Food     Call/s

Physical description

Click here for a physical description

Taxonomy, classification

See Black-legged Kittiwake at Wikipedia .

Range, habitat, finding this species

Click here for information on habitat and range

Sightings

Click here for sighting information

Photos

Race "tridactyla"

ADULT

Sex unknown

NON-BREEDING

Lateral view of a Black-legged Kittiwake in non-breeding plumage in flight (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Cabo Raso, Cascais, near Lisbon, Portugal, January 2021]

Lateral view onto the upperparts of a Black-legged Kittiwake in non-breeding plumage in flight (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Papoa, near Cape Carvoeiro, Peniche, Portugal, January 2023]

Lateral/ventral view onto the underparts of a Black-legged Kittiwake in non-breeding plumage in flight (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Papoa, near Cape Carvoeiro, Peniche, Portugal, January 2023]

Near-dorsal view onto the upperparts of a Black-legged Kittiwake in non-breeding plumage in flight (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Cabo Raso, Cascais, near Lisbon, Portugal, January 2021]

Near-dorsal/ventral view of a Black-legged Kittiwake in non-breeding plumage in flight (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Cabo Raso, Cascais, near Lisbon, Portugal, January 2021]

IMMATURE/JUVENILE

Lateral view onto the upperparts of a first-winter Black-legged Kittiwake in flight (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Papoa, near Cape Carvoeiro, Peniche, Portugal, January 2023]

Lateral comparison between a first-winter Black-legged Kittiwake, top, and an adult in non-breeding plumage in flight
(photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Papoa, near Cape Carvoeiro, Peniche, Portugal, January 2023]

Comparison between a first-winter Black-legged Kittiwake, bottom, and an adult in non-breeding plumage in flight
(photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Papoa, near Cape Carvoeiro, Peniche, Portugal, January 2023]

Lateral view onto the upperparts of a juvenile Black-legged Kittiwake in flight - note the black semi-collar
(photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Land's End, Cornwall, England, September 2019]

These pages are largely based on our own observations and those of our contributors. The structure of these bird pages is explained HERE. For more salient facts on any bird species please refer to a field guide.

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