Nature Photographers Ltd

Kittiwake Rissa tridactyla L 38-42cm. A true seagull: non-breeding life spent entirely at sea. Sexes are similar. Adult has blue-grey back and upperwings with black wingtips; plumage is otherwise white. Bill is yellow; eye and legs are dark. In flight, wingtips look dipped in black ink. In winter, similar but head has grubby patches behind eye. Juvenile has black ‘V’ markings on upperwing; back and upperwing coverts are grey and note triangle of white on flight feathers, dark tip to tail, black half collar and dark markings on head; bill is dark. 1st winter is similar to juvenile but gradually loses dark half collar and black tail tip. Voice Utters diagnostic kittee-wake when nesting. Status Nests colonially on coastal cliff ledges but also dockside factories etc. Non-breeding period spent far out to sea.