Red-legged kittiwake

The Red-legged Kittiwake is a very localised subarctic Pacific species. Apart from the distinguishing feature implicit in its name, it is very similar to its better known relative, the Black-legged Kittiwake; other differences include the shorter bill, larger eyes, a larger, rounder head and darker grey wings, and in the juveniles, which barely differ from the adults, lacking the black tail band and 'W' across the wings of juvenile Black-legged Kittiwakes. Juveniles take three years to reach maturity.

The Red-legged kittiwake is classified as Vulnerable (VU), considered to be facing a high risk of extinction in the wild.

Red-legged Kittiwake is one of the few species of gull that could rightly be called a "seagull." It nests on island cliffs at only four locations in the Bering Sea, and then essentially disappears at sea during the winter months. Populations of this kittiwake have dropped significantly at its main breeding site in the Pribilof Islands since the 1970s, probably due to low marine food productivity over an extended period of time. More

Red-legged KittiwakeRissa brevirostris Order CHARADRIIFORMES – Family LARIDAE Issue No. 060 Authors: Byrd, G. V., and J. C. Williams * Articles * Multimedia * References Courtesy Preview This Introductory article that you are viewing is a courtesy preview of the full life history account of this species. The remaining articles (Distribution, Habitat, Behavior, etc. More

In sharp contrast, the Red-legged Kittiwake has a very limited range in the Bering Sea, breeding only on the Pribilof, Bogoslof and Buldir islands in the United States, and the Commander Islands in Russia. On these islands, it shares some of the same cliff habitat as the Black-legged Kittiwake, though there is some localized segregation between the species on given cliffs. Physical appearance - The two species are physically very similar. More

The Red-legged Kittiwake, Rissa brevirostris is a seabird species in the gull family Laridae. It breeds in the Pribilof, Bogoslof and Buldir islands of the USA, and the Commander Islands, Russia. Adults are 35-40 cm long, with an 84-92 cm wingspan. Red-legged Kittiwake parent and chick. The Red-legged Kittiwake is a very localised subarctic Pacific species. More

The Red-legged Kittiwake has a modest breeding range, confined to the Bogoslof and Buldir Islands in the United States and the Commander Islands in Russia. Native to the United States, Canada, and the Russian Federation, this bird prefers neritic, oceanic, or coastal marine ecosystems. The global population of this bird is estimated at 291,000 to 321,000 individuals and shows significant signs of population decline that necessitate inclusion on the IUCN Red List. More

Red-legged kittiwake - Rissa brevirostris = series details Phylum: Chordata Class: Aves Order: Charadriiformes Family: Laridae Genus: Rissa Description red legged kittiwakeThe red-legged kittiwake is a small gull that is 13-18 inches in length. It has white undersides, chest, and head; dark-gray upperwings and back; and black tips on its wings. More

Red-legged Kittiwake - Rissa brevirostris Click for more Pine Grosbeak Photos Click here for information on this species Visit the "Print / Digital Image Sales" page for use / purchase information. More

Two Red-legged Kittiwakes, an adult and its chick, sit in their nest built in the cliffs in the Pribilof Islands in Alaska, USA. An adult Red-legged Kittiwake and its chick perched in their nest on the vertical sea cliffs in the... More

Red-legged Kittiwakes are only found on five islands—the Pribilof Islands and at the end of the Aleutian Island Chain. They nest on ledges on vertical sea cliffs. It is thought that individuals may move south and east from breeding areas in the fall, but this and much about their natural history is still unknown. More

Images Red-legged kittiwake standing on cliff edge The red-legged kittiwake is a smallish gull, easily identified by its scarlet coloured legs. Adults are largely white in colour but the back and the upperwings are dark grey. The wings have black tips, and the yellow bill is short. Juveniles and ... More

Red-legged kittiwake standing on cliff edge Red-legged kittiwake standing on cliff edgePrint factsheet Facts - Kingdom Animalia Phylum Chordata Class Aves Order Charadriiformes Family Laridae Genus Rissa (1) Size Length: 35 - 39 cm (2) More

Red-legged Kittiwakes (with Harlequin Ducks and Black-legged Kittiwakes) St. More

The status of Red-legged Kittiwake in the Pacific Northwest is imperfectly known due to lack of observers in its pelagic habitat. However, it appears to be a rare but probably regular visitor to inshore and offshore waters along the outer coast. Most records are in winter and early spring (December through April): six from Oregon, five from Washington, and one from British Columbia. Eight of these 12 records have been of birds found dead or dying on beaches. More

Aspects of the topic red-legged kittiwake are discussed in the following places at Britannica. Assorted References * description (in kittiwake (bird)) ...the North and South Atlantic coasts. Kittiwakes have evolved a number of behavioral and structural modifications for nesting on narrow cliff ledges. A close relative, with red bill and feet, is the red-legged kittiwake (R. More

Red-Legged Kittiwakes on St. George Island, Alaska - by S. Dean Kildaw, Department of Biology and Wildlife, Institute of Arctic Biology - The red-legged kittiwake is a rare species of gull that is en- demic to the Bering Sea where it breeds at only four known locations. Approximately 80% of a global population of more than 230,000 red-legged kittiwakes breeds on St. George Island in the southeastern Bering Sea. More

Red-legged kittiwake Rissa brevirostris = - Identification Tips: - * Sexes similar * Medium-sized gull * Short bill with indistinct gonydeal angle * Dark gray mantle * Breeds locally on islands off Alaska-very rarely observed elsewhere in western United States and Canada More

The Red-legged Kittiwake is a very localised subarctic Pacific species. Apart from the distinguishing feature implicit in its name, it is very similar to its better known relative, the Black-legged Kittiwake; other differences include the shorter bill, larger eyes, a larger, rounder head and darker grey wings, and in the juveniles, which barely differ from the adults, lacking the black tail band and 'W' across the wings of juvenile Black-legged Kittiwakes. Juveniles take three years to reach maturity. More