The black-legged kittiwake is a seabird species in the gull family Laridae. This species was first described by Carl Linnaeus in his landmark 1758 10th edition of Systema Naturae as Larus tridactylus. The English name is derived from its call, a shrill 'kittee-wa-aaake, kitte-wa-aaake'. In North America, this species is known as the black-legged kittiwake to differentiate it from the red-legged kittiwake, but in Europe, where it is the only member of the genus, it is often known just as kittiwake.
Region
North Atlantic and North Pacific Oceans
Typical Environment
Breeds on steep sea cliffs around subarctic and temperate coasts of the North Atlantic and parts of the North Pacific. Outside the breeding season it ranges widely over the open ocean, often far from land. Prefers productive shelf edges, upwelling zones, and frontal systems where small schooling fish and plankton concentrate. Colonies are typically on narrow cliff ledges with exposure to prevailing winds and nearby feeding areas.
Altitude Range
Sea level to 500 m
Climate Zone
Temperate
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 1/5
A cliff-nesting gull of northern oceans, the black-legged kittiwake spends most of its life far offshore and comes to land mainly to breed. Its name mimics its ringing call, often heard at bustling breeding colonies. Unlike many gulls, it feeds chiefly by surface-dipping for small fish and zooplankton rather than scavenging.
A vagrant kittiwake at Borith Lake, high in the Karakoram mountains of northern Pakistan, over 1,400 km from the Indian Ocean and over 5,000 km overland from the nearest breeding colonies
Eggs, Collection Museum Wiesbaden
Temperament
social and colonial
Flight Pattern
buoyant flier with shallow wingbeats and gliding over waves
Social Behavior
Nests in dense colonies on sheer sea cliffs, often with thousands of pairs. Builds cup-shaped nests of mud, grass, and seaweed on narrow ledges. Typically monogamous, laying 1–2 eggs; both adults incubate and feed chicks by regurgitation.
Migratory Pattern
Seasonal migrant
Song Description
In colonies it gives a sharp, ringing 'kitt-ee-waake' that carries over surf and wind. Also uses harsh chatter and contact calls between mates and neighbors.
Plumage
Clean white head, neck, and underparts with a pale grey mantle and upperwings; wing tips solid black without white mirrors. In nonbreeding plumage, a diffuse grey ear patch and nape smudge appear. Juveniles show a bold black 'W' across the upperwings and a partial dark neck collar.
Diet
Feeds mainly on small schooling fish such as sand eels, capelin, and herring, plus krill and other planktonic crustaceans. Forages by surface-dipping and short plunge-dives, usually taking prey near the surface. Less inclined to scavenge than many gulls but may follow fishing vessels or predators that drive prey to the surface.
Preferred Environment
Most foraging occurs offshore over continental shelf waters, fronts, and upwellings where prey aggregate. During breeding, adults commute between cliff colonies and nearby productive marine areas.
