The RSPB: Kittiwake

Kittiwake

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Latin name

Rissa tridactyla

Family

Gulls (Laridae)

Overview

A gentle looking, medium-sized gull with a small yellow bill and a dark eye. It has a grey back and is white underneath. Its legs are short and black. In flight the black wing-tips show no white, unlike other gulls, and look as if they have been 'dipped in ink'. The population is declining in some areas, perhaps due to a shortage of sandeels. After breeding birds move out into the Atlantic where they spend the winter.

Where to see them

A strictly coastal gull. In the breeding season, look for it at seabird colonies around the UK. In late summer and autumn it can be seen flying past offshore, or collecting at roosts. It spends the winter months out at sea.

When to see them

The best time to see them is on the breeding grounds in spring and summer - they arrive back at the colonies from February, staying until August. Passage birds can be commonly seen offshore from August to October.

What they eat

Fish, shrimps and worms.

Estimated numbers

Europe	UK breeding*	UK wintering*	UK passage*
-	379,892 pairs	-	-

* UK breeding is the number of pairs breeding annually. UK wintering is the number of individuals present from October to March. UK passage is the number of individuals passing through on migration in spring and/or autumn.

Distribution

Key

Please note that the map is only intended as a guide. It shows general distribution rather than detailed, localised populations.

Find out more

Videos

Audio is from commercial recordings Bird Songs and Calls of Britain and Europe on 4 CDs or Bird Sounds of Europe & North-west Africa, copyright WildSounds & CEBA (www.wildsounds.com, (UK) +44 (0) 1263 741100)