Scientific name:

Rissa tridactyla

About:

Our most marine gull which only turns up inland very rarely. A medium-sized, very elegant gull, about 40cm long. Silvery grey above and white below, with a white head and black wing tips. Young birds have a black W across their wings and back.

How to identify:

<p>Easily identifiable at its nesting colonies on cliff faces, when you can hear its ‘kittiwake’ call.</p>

Where:

Nests on coastal cliffs. Can be seen around most of our coasts during migration.

Fantastic facts:

Like sanderlings, kittiwakes only have three toes, having lost the back toe.