From Opus

Rissa brevirostris

[edit] Identification

35-40 cm. Red legs, curved yellow bill. All-white head, white underparts, white tail, grey back and wings with black tips. During the non-breeding season, there is black smudge on each side of the head, behind the eyes. Juveniles show these black facial marks, and a grey-black collar along the back of the head.

[edit] Distribution

Pribilof, Bogoslof and Buldir islands of the USA, and the Commander Islands, Russia in the Bering Sea.

[edit] Taxonomy

Monotypic.

[edit] Habitat

Cliffs.

[edit] Behaviour

Both sexes build a shallow cup nest of mud, grass and kelp. 1-2 eggs are laid and incubated by both parents who also both care for the young.

The diet includes small fish (especially lampfish and Pollock), squid, and marine zooplankton.

[edit] External Links

• View more images of this species on Orientalbirdimages