Kittiwake
Rissa tridactyla
The Kittiwake is a familiar seabird in Britain, commonly seen along coastal areas, particularly during the breeding season when it can be found nesting on cliffs and rocky outcrops. It is a regular migrant and winter visitor to British shores, with large numbers congregating in coastal towns and harbours.
Field Identification Guide
Use these features to identify Kittiwake in the field.
The Kittiwake can be identified by its grey and white plumage, black legs, and distinctive black tip to its yellow bill, as well as its medium size and slender wings. Its pale grey back and wings, and white head and underparts, also help to distinguish it from other gull species.
The Kittiwake is slightly larger than a Black-headed Gull, but smaller than a Lesser Black-backed Gull, making it a medium-sized seabird.
The male Kittiwake has a pale grey back and wings, with a white head and underparts, and a black tip to its yellow bill, with no significant seasonal variation in its plumage.
The female Kittiwake is similar to the male, with no notable differences in plumage, making it difficult to distinguish between the sexes based on appearance alone.
The Kittiwake's call is a loud, shrill 'kittee-wa-aaake, kitte-wa-aaake', which is often heard in colonial breeding sites and is a distinctive feature of this species.
Kittiwakes are social birds that feed on small fish, crustaceans, and plankton, often diving from the surface or picking up food while swimming, and are known for their agile and nimble flight, as well as their noisy and gregarious behaviour in breeding colonies.
The Kittiwake can be confused with other gull species, such as the Black-headed Gull or the Common Gull, but can be distinguished by its pale grey back and wings, black legs, and distinctive call, as well as its slender wings and more agile flight.
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