Prakruti Parichay
LaridaeRissaVagrant

Black-legged Klttlwake

Rissa tridactyla

38–40 cmLarge
Beak
—
Feet
—
Crest
No crest

India. in all plumages outer primaries on upper and underwing are black-tipped, underwing is white; has slightly forked tail. Adult has white head in summer with grey hind neck, dark grey upperparts shading to whitish before black tip; yellowish bill and blackish legs. First year has dark 'W' pattern across wings and black tail-band; juvenile and some first-winters have white head with black ear-spot and black half-collar; 'W' is much faded by first summer. Call is a nasal. wailing kitt-i-WBBk kitt-i-WBBk. Pelagic.

Colour

BlackWhiteGrey
Average size
39 cm
Habitat
Pelagic.
Behaviour
India.

About this bird

India. in all plumages outer primaries on upper and underwing are black-tipped, underwing is white; has slightly forked tail. Adult has white head in summer with grey hind neck, dark grey upperparts shading to whitish before black tip; yellowish bill and blackish legs. First year has dark 'W' pattern across wings and black tail-band; juvenile and some first-winters have white head with black ear-spot and black half-collar; 'W' is much faded by first summer. Call is a nasal. wailing kitt-i-WBBk kitt-i-WBBk. Pelagic.

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Every bird sits between two neighbours — bigger than one, smaller than the other. The sentences below are generated live from the database.

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Black-legged Klttlwake is bigger than Barbary Falcon but smaller than Crab-plover.

This bird

Black-legged Klttlwake

Rissa tridactyla

38–40 cm