Page 218 - Complete Birds of Britain and Europe (DK - RSPB)

SKUAS, GULLS,AND TERNS
Order Charadriiformes Family Laridae Species Larus tridactyla
Kittiwake dark eye collar turns
grey
pale green-
yellow bill
white head
black triangle and breast black zigzag
on wingtips across
pale outer upperwings
wings
IMMATURE
(1ST WINTER)
dull and dingy
blue-grey by summer
back
black ADULT
collar
JUVENILE
black zigzag IMMATURE dark ear-
on wings (1ST SUMMER) spot
short
blackish legs grey back
of head
ADULT
IN FLIGHT (SUMMER)
all-black
wingtips
FLIGHT: easy, elegant; in wind, bounds in series of
steep, arcing banks over waves on angled wings.
ne of the most maritime of the gulls,the
OKittiwake mostly comes to land only to breed,
but some also visit freshwater pools near the coast to ADULT (WINTER)
drink and bathe. Flocks of non-breeding immatures
may loaf about on beaches or flat rocky platforms EYE-CATCHING CHICK
during the summer and a few, in winter, stay around The sharp black collar and wing
harbours. Most feed well out at sea and, in winter, markings are obvious on juveniles.
lead a tough life, enduring the gales and rain of mid-
ocean for months.In summer,they nest on sheer cliffs
with the tiniest of ledges and make the coast ring to their distinctive calls.They are
often in large colonies close to Guillemots, Razorbills, and Puffins (see pp.226–9).
VOICE Ringing, nasal, rhythmic kiti-a-wake! often repeated in summer, also high,
thin mewing note.
NESTING Nest of weed on tiny ledge on sheer cliff or seaside building; 2 or 3 eggs;
1 brood, May-June.
FEEDING Takes mostly fish from surface or in shallow dive; eats offal from trawlers.
SIMILAR SPECIES OCCURRENCE
Breeds on sheer northern and
white spots LITTLE GULL HERRING GULL western coastal cliffs often in
on wingtips juvenile, similar see p.209
to immature; much larger mixed seabird colonies.
see p.213 Widespread at sea in winter but
darker
much back scarcer on coasts; common off
green smaller pink headlands and rare but regularly
legs inland on migration.
white legs
spots on Seen in the UK
COMMON GULL
see p.207 wingtips J F M A M JJ A S O N D
Length 38–40cm (15–16in) Wingspan 0.95–1.1m (3–3 1 ⁄2ft) Weight 300–500g (11–18oz)
Social Large flocks Lifespan Up to 10 years Status Secure
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