Bird Breeds: Black-Legged Kittiwake

The black-legged Kittiwake is not an easy to spot, and it only lives in couple of places making it harder to find. The black-legged Kittiwake only breeds a handful of places along the Arctic and Sub arctic coasts in Canada and Alaska. However, every year they will all migrate to a gathering at one place. Every winter, the Black-legged Kittiwake will migrate down south to warmer areas along coasts of Florida in North America. Sometimes, they can be found migrating to another continent.

The Black-legged Kittiwake is a small, cliff-nesting gull which grows up to 16 inches with a wingspan doubles their height. After all, one of their greatest ability would be the ability to fly. The Black-legged Kittiwake truly is a beautiful gull with a medium-sized beak, and a back from black to gray colored with white underside and head. They have a rounded head which gives them an adorable appearance, and some beautiful beady eyes. Like their name suggests, they have black legs. Both sexes will look alike although there are differences between the breeding kittiwakes and the non-breeding ones. The young of the black-legged Kittiwake, on the other hand, have some differences when compared to the adults other than the height.

The Black-legged kittiwake will feed on small fishes and other small invertebrates. Generally, they will feed in flocks at shallow watered areas in the daytime. They have great flying abilities, and will dive underwater for food although it is a shallow dive. The nests of the Black-legged Kittiwake are generally left-attended when they search for food which makes it more prone to predation.

Nests of the Black-legged Kittiwake are generally found on cliffs. They are normally made of wet and dry vegetation combined together and mud which helps stick it all together. If you were to find a nest of the Black-legged Kittiwake, rest assured that there are many more nearby as the Black-legged Kittiwake will nest together in colonies. Clutch sizes generally range from 1 - 3, and the eggs are different colors of brown, blue, gray, and olive with brown specks on them.