Least ConcernHerring Gull
Larus argentatus
One of the 9 gulls on WAnimals
Birds · Charadriiformes · Laridae
Rissa tridactyla
At high risk of extinction in the wild over the medium term.
It catches its prey at the surface of the sea, often on the wing. It nests on extremely narrow cliff ledges, where its chicks stay unusually still to avoid falling.
Weight
317 g – 500 g
Size
33 cm – 46 cm
Life expectancy
16 years
Diet
Carnivore
Feeds mainly on other animals.
Activity
Diurnal
Active mainly during the day.
Social structure
Colony
Lives in large concentrations, often for breeding reasons.
Sources consulted: NHPBS NatureWorks · AnAge (genomics.senescence.info) · Animalia.bio · Audubon Field Guide · Animal Diversity Web · Wikipedia (Kittiwake) · eBird · Birds of the World · PMC (chromosome-level genome study)
Best time: From April to August at the cliff colonies of the North Atlantic; outside the breeding season it is fully pelagic and is not seen from land.
Parks and dive sites where this species has been documented — showing 10 of 27.
Other species in the catalogue with the most in common with Black-legged Kittiwake — same habitat, park, country, tags or family.
The black-legged kittiwake is classified as vulnerable. Organisations such as the IUCN, WWF and the Wildlife Conservation Society work specifically on its conservation and that of its habitat; looking into their programmes is a good starting point if you want to get involved.
It's documented in 10 protected areas — one reason why protecting these places matters for its conservation.
Based on what we already know about black-legged kittiwake.
The pins mark the parks where its presence is documented.
