Photo: terathopius / CC BY 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Red-legged Kittiwake
Rissa brevirostris
Red-legged Kittiwake (Rissa brevirostris) — Shorebirds, Gulls & Auks of North America.
Found across 20 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Red-legged Kittiwake (Rissa brevirostris) is a member of the Laridae family found in North America. Adults weigh 377 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Vulnerable.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Facing a high risk of extinction in the wild.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Charadriiformes
- Family Laridae Gulls, Terns, Skimmers
- Genus Rissa
- Species brevirostris
Where it lives
Commander Is. (southeastern Russia), Aleutian and Pribilof is., and St. Matthew I. (northern Bering Sea)
Quick facts
- Weight
- 377 g
- Diet
- Aquatic hunters
- Family
- Laridae
- Order
- Charadriiformes
- Habitat
- Wetland, lake & coast
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Vulnerable
Least Concern
Not Evaluated
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Red-legged Kittiwake hunts aquatic prey such as fish and aquatic invertebrates.
Behaviour
A bird of open sea and coastal waters, it is highly aerial, spending much of its time on the wing.
Migration
The Red-legged Kittiwake is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.
The Red-legged Kittiwake (Rissa brevirostris) belongs to the Laridae family of the order Charadriiformes. It occurs naturally across North America. Its distribution covers NA Commander Is. (se Russia), Aleutian and Pribilof is., and St. Matthew I. (n Bering Sea).
It is a large bird. Adults weighs around 377 g, with a wing length of about 30 cm and a tail of around 11.3 cm.
It is classified as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List and is a focus of conservation concern. Vulnerable species face a high risk of extinction in the wild if pressures continue.
Its mapped global range covers an estimated 192,000 km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Red-legged Kittiwake?
The Red-legged Kittiwake is a large bird that weighs around 377 g.
Where does the Red-legged Kittiwake live?
The Red-legged Kittiwake is found across North America with a range covering NA Commander Is. (se Russia), Aleutian and Pribilof is., and St. Matthew I. (n Bering Sea), where it is associated with wetlands, lakes and other open water.
What family does the Red-legged Kittiwake belong to?
The Red-legged Kittiwake (Rissa brevirostris) belongs to the Laridae family, in the order Charadriiformes.
What does the Red-legged Kittiwake eat?
The Red-legged Kittiwake hunts aquatic prey such as fish and aquatic invertebrates.
Does the Red-legged Kittiwake migrate?
The Red-legged Kittiwake is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.
Is the Red-legged Kittiwake endangered?
It is classified as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List and is a focus of conservation concern Vulnerable species face a high risk of extinction in the wild if pressures continue.
What sound does the Red-legged Kittiwake make?
1 real field recording of the Red-legged Kittiwake — including its call — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Red-legged Kittiwake's range?
The Red-legged Kittiwake has a mapped global range of about 192,000 km².
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
Explore more birds
More in Laridae
Least Concern
Least Concern
Not Evaluated
Least Concern
Near Threatened
Vulnerable
More in Shorebirds
Not Evaluated
Least Concern
Not Evaluated
Vulnerable
Least Concern