# Black-legged Kittiwake (*Rissa tridactyla*) The Black-legged Kittiwake is a small, cheerful seabird that loves to live near the ocean. With its white body and black legs, it can often be seen flying over the waves or resting on rocky cliffs. - **Category:** [Birds](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/bird) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 1 - **Habitat:** Coastal areas ![Black-legged Kittiwake](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Black-legged-Kittiwake.jpg&width=800) Photo: Andreas Trepte, CC BY-SA 2.5 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Black-legged-Kittiwake.jpg) ## Appearance The Black-legged Kittiwake is a medium-sized gull with a bright white head and body, a grey back, and striking black wingtips that look 'dipped in ink'. Its legs are jet black, contrasting with its small yellow bill. This sets it apart from many paler-legged gulls. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Aves - **Order:** Charadriiformes - **Family:** Laridae - **Genus:** Rissa ## Interesting facts - Baby kittiwakes have a cool black 'W' shape across their wings when they're young. - Kittiwakes 'cry out' excess salt from seawater using special glands above their eyes! - Kittiwakes spend winters far at sea, sometimes not touching land for 7-8 months! - They have a small, almost absent hind toe, making their feet look quite different! ## Special abilities - **Cliff Master:** Black-legged Kittiwake can build sturdy nests on narrow cliff ledges because of their strong grip, keeping eggs safe from predators. - **Ocean Roamer:** Black-legged Kittiwake has special glands that help them drink seawater, allowing them to live far out in the vast ocean. - **Diving Dynamo:** Black-legged Kittiwake can swiftly dive from the air into the water to catch fish, thanks to their quick wings and keen eyesight. - **Weather Warrior:** Black-legged Kittiwake has waterproof feathers that help them stay dry and warm even in stormy ocean weather. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 37-41 cm - **Wingspan:** 91-105 cm - **Weight:** 0.3-0.525 kg - **Lifespan:** 15-20 years - **Speed:** 60 km/h - **Clutch Size:** 1-3 - **Incubation:** 24-28 days - **Migration Distance:** 10000 km ## Diet & Feeding These ocean birds mostly eat small fish and tiny marine creatures found near the surface. - **Primary Foods:** Sand eels, Capelin, Herring, Cod fry, Krill, Squid - **Foraging Method:** Pursuit ## Ecological connections - **Eaten by:** Capelin (*Mallotus villosus*) — A key fish in their ocean diet. - **Eaten by:** Sandeel (*Ammodytes marinus*) — A favorite small fish snack. - **Eats:** [Great Black-backed Gull](https://www.snappit.app/explore/great-black-backed-gull) (*Larus marinus*) — Might steal eggs or chicks. ## Traits - [Feathered](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/feathered): Feathered describes animals, primarily birds, possessing a covering of feathers. - [Social](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/social): Social animals live in organized groups, cooperating for survival benefits such as foraging, defense, and raising offspring. - [Aerial](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/aerial): Aerial creatures spend a significant portion of their lives airborne, utilizing flight for various activities such as hunting, migration, or nesting. - [Gliding](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/gliding): Gliding animals move through the air by launching themselves and maintaining flight with specialized body structures, without flapping wings. - [Piscivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/piscivorous): Piscivorous organisms are animals that primarily subsist on a diet of fish. - [Coastal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/coastal): Coastal habitats are dynamic environments located along the interface between land and sea, influenced by tides, waves, and saltwater. - [Diurnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/diurnal): Diurnal animals are primarily active during daylight hours, typically resting or sleeping at night. - [Keystone Species](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/keystone-species): Describes a species whose presence and role have a disproportionately large effect on its environment. - [Marine](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/marine): Marine habitats encompass all saltwater environments of the Earth's oceans, supporting an immense diversity of aquatic life. - [Migratory](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/migratory): Migratory animals undertake seasonal movements from one region to another, typically in response to changes in climate or food availability. ## Collections - [Birds](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/birds) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Always watch birds from a distance and do not try to touch or feed them. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Black-legged Kittiwake? Compare the silhouette, bill shape, tail length, wing bars and markings around the eyes. The same small brown bird at your feeder can look quite different in breeding plumage, winter plumage or its first year. Bird Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How long is Black-legged Kittiwake? 37-41 cm ### What is Black-legged Kittiwake's wingspan? 91-105 cm ### How much does Black-legged Kittiwake weigh? 0.3-0.525 kg ### How long does Black-legged Kittiwake live? 15-20 years ### How fast can Black-legged Kittiwake move? 60 km/h ### What does Black-legged Kittiwake eat? These ocean birds mostly eat small fish and tiny marine creatures found near the surface. ### Where is Black-legged Kittiwake usually found? Coastal areas ## Where to spot - [Amalik Bay Archeological District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/amalik-bay-archeological-district) — US · Historic District - [Cap d’Erquy–Cap Fréhel Grand Site](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/cap-derquycap-frehel-grand-site) — Bretagne, FR · Park - [Parc naturel régional des Caps et Marais d’Opale](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/parc-naturel-regional-des-caps-et-marais-dopale) — Hauts-de-France, FR · Park [View all places to see Black-legged Kittiwake](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/black-legged-kittiwake) ## More Birds - [Black-crowned Night Heron](https://www.snappit.app/explore/black-crowned-night-heron) (*Nycticorax nycticorax*) - [Anna's Hummingbird](https://www.snappit.app/explore/annas-hummingbird) (*Calypte anna*) - [Great Egret](https://www.snappit.app/explore/great-egret) (*Ardea alba*) - [Blue Jay](https://www.snappit.app/explore/blue-jay) (*Cyanocitta cristata*) --- Source: [Black-legged Kittiwake: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/black-legged-kittiwake)