Black-legged Kittiwake

Identification

The black-legged kittiwake is a small gull measuring 37–41 cm in length with a wingspan of 91–105 cm. Adults are striking and unmistakable, with white heads and bodies, grey backs, and grey wings tipped solid black. Their most distinctive features are their black legs and bright yellow bills. The inside of their mouth is a characteristic rich red colour, which they flash to their partners during greeting displays—a behaviour linked to reproductive success. In winter, adults develop a dark grey smudge behind the eye and a grey hind-neck collar, while their bill turns dusky-olive.

Juveniles are quite different and can be confusing to novice birdwatchers. They display a bold black 'W' band across the wings, whiter secondary and primary feathers, a black hind-neck collar, and a black terminal band on the tail. Their bills are solid black initially. Young birds gradually acquire adult plumage over several years, reaching full maturity by age four. The species name "tridactyla" refers to their unusual anatomy: unlike most gulls, kittiwakes possess only three toes, with the hind toe either extremely reduced or completely absent.

Range & Habitat

Black-legged kittiwakes are coastal birds of the Arctic to subarctic regions, found across northern coasts of both the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. Two subspecies occupy different hemispheres: R. t. tridactyla inhabits the North Atlantic from Canada and Greenland through Iceland to northwest Europe and Siberia, while R. t. pollicaris occupies the North Pacific from Alaska to Siberia. During winter, their range extends considerably southward, reaching the coast of New Jersey in the Atlantic and including pelagic regions like the Sargasso Sea and waters off West Africa.

Kittiwakes are among the most pelagic of all gulls, spending most of their lives out at sea, far from human sight. They are rarely found inland, though occasional vagrants have been recorded well over a thousand kilometres from the coast. The exception to their marine lifestyle occurs during the breeding season from May to September, when they congregate on the sheerest sea cliffs to establish their colonies.

Behaviour & Diet

The black-legged kittiwake's English name is derived directly from its distinctive call—a shrill, repetitive 'kittee-wa-aaake, kitte-wa-aaake'—which is unmistakable once learned. During the breeding season, pairs engage in characteristic greeting displays where they open their mouths wide to flash their brilliant red mouth interiors to their partners while calling. This behaviour appears to be significant in pair bonding and reproductive success, as studies suggest that the intensity of red pigmentation in the mouth is associated with male reproductive fitness. The red coloration itself comes from carotenoid pigments and vitamin A acquired through their diet.

Like other gulls, kittiwakes follow an annual moult cycle consisting of one complete moult and one partial moult each year. The full moult from summer to winter plumage is notably protracted, beginning as early as late May or June and continuing until October or, rarely, the end of the year. A partial moult occurs in spring, typically from March to early April, affecting head and body feathers but not the wings and tail.

Best Time & Places to See It

The breeding season from May to September offers the best opportunities to see black-legged kittiwakes, particularly at their nesting colonies on dramatic sea cliffs throughout their range. In the Atlantic, key locations include the coasts of Greenland, Iceland, northwest Europe, and North America from the Canadian Arctic through Newfoundland. In the Pacific, look for them along the coasts of Alaska, the Aleutian Islands, Kamchatka Peninsula, and other northeastern regions.

Outside the breeding season, observing kittiwakes requires pelagic boat trips, as they spend most of their time far out at sea. Winter months extend their range further south, making sightings possible from lower latitudes during this period.

Photography Tips

Photographing black-legged kittiwakes is most rewarding during the breeding season when they are concentrated at cliff colonies. Their distinctive black-and-white plumage and bright yellow bills are highly photogenic. Capture close-ups of adults showing their characteristic red mouth interiors during greeting displays—this intimate behaviour provides compelling images. The contrast between their white bodies and grey-black wing tips creates striking compositional opportunities.

When photographing juveniles, pay attention to the diagnostic black 'W' marking across the wings and the black tail band, which make excellent identifying features for images. During the breeding season, dramatic sea cliff backgrounds enhance photographs significantly. Winter birds are more challenging to photograph due to their pelagic habits, requiring boat-based photography and patience in open-water conditions.