kittiwake

The kittiwake (Rissa tridactyla) is a medium-sized seabird in the gull family (Laridae). It breeds along the Arctic and subarctic coasts of the North Atlantic and North Pacific, often occupying cliff faces. Unlike many other gulls, it nests on vertical or near-vertical cliffs and forms dense breeding colonies.

Adults have pale gray upperparts, white underparts, and a yellow bill with a dark terminal mark. The wings show darker tips, and the tail is generally light. Juveniles are brownish and mottled, becoming progressively more like adults after several molts. The species is highly adapted to a marine lifestyle, spending most of the year at sea.

Kittiwakes feed primarily on small schooling fish and crustaceans, obtained by surface foraging or shallow plunges. They often follow fishing vessels to take advantage of bycatch and discards. Their foraging behavior and dependence on marine prey make them sensitive to fluctuations in fish stocks and ocean conditions.

Breeding occurs in late spring. Pairs usually lay one or two eggs in nests made of seaweed and vegetation, placed on ledges or in crevices on cliffs. Both parents incubate the eggs for roughly 26–30 days, and the chicks fledge after about 5–6 weeks. Juveniles disperse with post-breeding movements along coasts.

Conservation status is listed as Least Concern by the IUCN. The species has a broad distribution and a large global population, estimated in the tens of millions, though regional declines have been observed in some areas due to changes in prey availability and environmental pressures. The kittiwake is protected in many regions, with ongoing monitoring of its populations.