Rissa tridactyla polliacris

(Ridgway, 1884)

Vernacular names
English : Black-legged kittiwake
French : Mouette tridactyle

Classification
Class : Aves
Order : Charadriiformes
Family : Laridae
Notes : 1 other subspecies known

Identification
Adults grow to 41 cm, weight of 400 g. Adults all white with light grey wings, yellow bill, red eye-ring, black legs. Juveniles with black markings on nape, eyes and shoulders and with dark grey to black bill. Non-breeding with dark nape.

Range and habitat
Subspecies found in north Pacific Ocean, from Siberia and north-east China to Alaska and northwest Mexico. Species also found in north Atlantic Ocean. Lives in Arctic and temperate waters with cliffs. Pelagic in non breeding times.

Conservation
IUCN RED LIST : VULNERABLE
CITES : Not Listed
Status : The species is still considered the most abundant gull species but very worrying declines have been noted, especially in the Atlantic population.
Ex-Situ Programs : None known

Observation

 

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