Black-legged Kittiwake

Adults have a white head, neck, underparts, and tail, with pearl-gray mantle and upperwings. The wingtips are characteristically solid black, looking as though they were 'dipped in ink'. In non-breeding plumage, they develop a dark gray smudge behind the eye and on the hindneck. Juveniles have a distinct black W-pattern across the wings, a black collar on the hindneck, and a black terminal band on the tail.

Pure yellow bill, dark eye, short dark legs, pearl-gray back, and entirely black wingtips with no white spots at the tips.

Length: 38-40 cm, Wingspan: 90-100 cm, Weight: 300-500 g

Named after its distinctive, high-pitched call which sounds like 'kitt-i-waake' or 'kidded-a-wake', frequently repeated at the breeding colony.

Primarily small schooling fish like sand lance, capelin, and herring, as well as zooplankton, crustaceans, and squid. Forages by surface-dipping or shallow plunging into the water.

Pelagic marine environments during the non-breeding season; steep coastal cliffs, sea stacks, and rocky ledges during the breeding season.

Migratory; spends the non-breeding winter months far out at sea in the open North Atlantic and North Pacific, often well away from land.

Nests in dense colonies on extremely narrow, vertical cliff ledges. Constructs a sturdy cup nest out of mud, moss, and seaweed cemented together. Usually lays 1 to 3 eggs, incubated by both parents.

Other medium-sized gulls like the Common Gull or Mew Gull, but distinguished instantly by the completely black wingtips ('dipped in ink'), all-yellow bill without markings, dark eye, and strictly cliff-nesting habits.

Acts as an important bioindicator for marine ecosystem health and pelagic fish populations, particularly sand lance and capelin. Their breeding success often reflects changes in ocean temperatures and food availability.

Vulnerable (IUCN), with populations experiencing rapid declines due to climate change and warming ocean waters reducing their prey availability.

Best observed during the breeding season by visiting steep coastal sea cliffs and colonies on islands or headlands. Bring binoculars or a spotting scope to scan cliff ledges.

Unlike most gulls that nest on the ground, kittiwakes are uniquely specialized for nesting on precarious, vertical cliff ledges where mammalian predators cannot reach them. Their chicks have an instinctive behavior not to back up or walk off ledges.