Red-legged Kittiwake
A species of Kittiwakes Scientific name : Rissa brevirostris Genus : Kittiwakes
Red-legged Kittiwake, A species of Kittiwakes
Botanical name: Rissa brevirostris
Genus: Kittiwakes
Content
Description General Info
Description
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. Adults are 35–39 cm (14–15 in) long, with an 84–92 cm (33–36 in) wingspan and a body mass of 325–510 g (11.5–18.0 oz). Like the Pacific race of black-legged kittiwake, the red-legged kittiwake has a well-developed hind toe. As occasional individual black-legged kittiwakes have reddish legs, any reports of red-legged away from the subarctic Pacific must record all of the other differences, not just the leg colour, for acceptance by bird recording authorities. 
Size
23 - 41 cm
Life Expectancy
4-27 years
Nest Placement
Cliff
Feeding Habits
Red-legged Kittiwake predominantly consumes small fish and marine invertebrates, such as northern lampfish and walleye pollock, along with squid and marine zooplankton, including amphipods. Red-legged Kittiwake exhibits specialized foraging behaviors, diving to capture prey, often during twilight hours, leveraging unique adaptations to its marine environment.
Habitat
Ledges of vertical sea cliffs
Nest Behavior
Both sexes of red-legged Kittiwake are involved in nest building, using the same sites annually, rebuilding after winter damage. They show courtship behaviors akin to their relatives and engage in shared parental care.
Nest Characteristics
Red-legged Kittiwake builds nests on small ledges of vertical cliffs in colonies. The structure is a shallow cup-shaped creation made of mud, grass, and kelp.
Dite type
Piscivorous
General Info
Feeding Habits
Bird food type
Behavior
The red-legged kittiwake feeds on fish such as lanternfish (Myctophidae), squid and invertebrates. It spends the summer at the cliff breeding colonies, nesting on ledges, and migrates out to sea in September to overwinter in the north western Pacific Ocean and the Gulf of Alaska.
Species Status
This species is listed as "Vulnerable" by the IUCN as its population appears to be in decline. It has a global population in the region of 337,000 to 377,000 mature individuals and its breeding range is 192,000 square kilometres (74,000 sq mi). Its numbers are thought to have decreased by about 35% between the mid-1970s and the mid-1990s though numbers may have stabilized since. It is unclear why they have declined, but it may be related to a change in the availability of prey, possibly associated excessive commercial fishing or with climate change.
Scientific Classification
Phylum
Chordates Class
Birds Order
Shorebirds Family
Gulls Genus
Kittiwakes Species
Red-legged Kittiwake 
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