Black-Legged Kittiwakes

Kittiwakes (Rissa tridactyla) length: 40.6 cm wing-span: 86 cm bill: 3.3 cm

Up to 60,000 black-legged kittiwakes nest on the three main bird nesting colonies off the Avalon Peninsula at Baccalieu Island, Witless Bay and Cape St. Mary's.

At a distance they may be confused with herring gulls, but the herring gull is bigger, has a sturdier build and a thicker bill. Adult kittiwakes are white with grey wings and back. The wing tips are all black and their beak is yellow.

Juveniles have black patches at the back of the head, a black tail tip and a black "W" fringing on their wings.

Cape St. Mary's offers incredible close range viewing of thousands of kittiwakes nesting on the perpendicular rock-face.

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