Black-legged Kittiwake

Rissa tridactyla

Photo by JJM

Identification

Widespread, a common and increasing gull of northern coasts. Breeds around Iceland, the Faroes and British Is (absent from much of south and east where coasts lack suitable cliffs), coastal Norway and the north of the Kola Peninsula. In the far north breeds on Jan Mayen, Svalbard, Bear Island, Franz Josef Land and Novaya Zemlya. Also breeds locally in small numbers in north Denmark and Heligoland (Germany), the Channel Islands and north-west France, the north-western tip of Spain and at one site in Portugal.

Colonies occupied March (earlier in the south)-September, disperse after breeding and in winter occurs in the Atlantic from breeding range south to about Morocco, in the North Sea and the Mediterranean east to Italy.

Has occurred as a vagrant to most European countries, Malta, the Middle East including Aqaba in Jordan, North Africa, Canary Islands and Cape Verde Islands.

Habitat Breeds on steep sea-cliffs, stacks and rocky islands, in some areas also on buildings. When not breeding occurs at sea often far from land. Sometimes seen at freshwaters near the coast or far inland after severe weather.

Bird Song

<flashmp3>Rissa tridactyla (song).mp3</flashmp3>
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External Links

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