Kittiwake Diet and Size: Feeding Habits, Predators, and Measurements
The Kittiwake (Rissa tridactyla) is a distinctive seabird known for its preference for steep, rugged coastal cliffs where it nests in striking colonies.
With its crisp white plumage and black-tipped wings, the Kittiwake’s graceful flight and piercing calls are familiar sounds along the UK’s coastlines.
In this article, let’s have a closer look into the Kittiwake’s diet, breeding habits, size, and conservation status, along with information about where to find them across the UK!
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The Dietary Habits Of The Kittiwake
Kittiwakes are feeders with precise hunting techniques that set them apart from other gull species.
What Does A Kittiwake Eat?
Kittiwakes primarily feed on small fish, marine worms, and shrimp, which they catch by plunge-diving or surface feeding. Their diet mainly consists of sand eels, sprats, and young herring, supplemented with marine invertebrates.
These seabirds are particularly adept at catching prey near the water’s surface, using their agile flight abilities to spot and capture food. Unlike many other gulls, Kittiwakes rarely scavenge and instead prefer to catch their own prey, making them more dependent on the health of marine ecosystems.
During the breeding season, they concentrate their feeding efforts within 30 to 60 miles of their nesting sites, ensuring they can regularly return to feed their chicks.
What To Feed A Baby Kittiwake?
Kittiwake chicks are entirely dependent on their parents for food, which consists of regurgitated fish. Parents take turns foraging and bringing back partially digested fish for the chicks, which is essential for their rapid growth.
Given their cliff-nesting environment, Kittiwake chicks have adapted to stay still in their nests to avoid falling off precarious ledges. Parents often need to be strategic about how and when they feed their chicks to avoid attracting the attention of potential predators.
Breeding Habits Of Kittiwakes
Kittiwakes have developed specialised breeding behaviours adapted to their cliff-nesting lifestyle.
Do Kittiwakes Mate For Life?
Kittiwakes typically form long-term pair bonds and often return to the same nesting site year after year. While they don’t strictly mate for life, pairs frequently reunite at their previous nesting sites if both birds survive the winter.
These birds show strong site fidelity, with pairs working together to maintain and defend their nesting territory. Their cooperative approach to parenting, including sharing incubation duties and chick-rearing responsibilities, strengthens their bond throughout the breeding season.
Once eggs are laid, typically one to two per clutch, both parents take on incubation duties, which lasts about 24 to 27 days. This shared responsibility not only strengthens the bond between the pair but also allows them to protect the nest from potential intruders, including other Kittiwakes competing for prime cliffside spots.
The Size & Weight Of Kittiwakes
Kittiwakes are medium-sized gulls with proportions perfectly adapted to their pelagic lifestyle.
How Much Does A Kittiwake Weigh?
Adult Kittiwakes typically weigh between 300 to 500 grams, making them lighter than many other gull species. This relatively light weight enhances their agility in flight and their ability to hover while fishing.
Males and females are similar in weight, though there can be slight variations depending on the season and breeding status. Their weight is carefully balanced to allow for efficient flight while maintaining enough energy reserves for long periods at sea.
How Big Is A Kittiwake?
Kittiwakes measure 38 to 40 centimetres in length with a wingspan of 95 to 110 centimetres. Their size is perfectly suited to their lifestyle, allowing them to be agile enough to catch prey while being robust enough to withstand harsh marine conditions.
Their wing shape and size enable them to glide effortlessly on ocean winds, making them well-adapted to life at sea. The long, pointed wings are particularly useful for their hunting technique of picking prey from the water’s surface.
Are Kittiwakes Under Threat?
Kittiwakes are currently Red-listed in the UK Birds of Conservation Concern and are listed as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List globally.
Their population has declined significantly in recent decades, primarily due to climate change affecting their food supply.
What Eats A Kittiwake?
Adult Kittiwakes face predation from large gulls, skuas, and birds of prey. Their eggs and chicks are particularly vulnerable to predation from rats, ravens, and larger gulls.
To minimise predation risk, Kittiwakes nest on narrow cliff ledges, often in large colonies where collective vigilance helps protect against predators. Their cliff-nesting habit evolved specifically to reduce predation pressure on eggs and chicks.
Where Can I See Kittiwakes In The UK?
Kittiwakes are a familiar sight along the UK’s rugged northern coastlines.
Significant colonies can be found in Scotland, particularly on the Isle of May, Orkney, and Shetland Islands. England’s Northumberland coast is also home to Kittiwake colonies, especially around places like the Farne Islands and Bempton Cliffs in Yorkshire, where they create impressive seasonal displays.
During the breeding season, Kittiwakes are relatively easy to spot, as they return in large numbers to these coastal cliffs. In winter, however, they migrate to the open ocean, making sightings rare until they return in spring. Birdwatchers seeking to observe Kittiwakes during the breeding season should visit these cliffside colonies, where the distinctive sound of “kittee-wa-aaake” fills the air, creating a vibrant natural spectacle.
SEE ALSO: Kittiwake Life Cycle: Nest Building To Fledging (and everything in between)
Frequently Asked Questions
Kittiwakes usually lay 1-2 eggs per clutch. The eggs are incubated for about 24-27 days by both parents, and chicks typically fledge when they’re around 35-40 days old.
Yes, Kittiwakes show strong site fidelity, often returning to the same nesting site year after year. They may even reuse the same nest, though they usually rebuild or repair it each breeding season.
The main threats to Kittiwakes include climate change affecting their food supply, particularly sand eel populations, overfishing, plastic pollution, and disturbance at breeding colonies. Extreme weather events can also impact their breeding success.
Yes, Kittiwakes can swim and often rest on the sea surface. However, they are more commonly seen in flight or at their nesting colonies, and they obtain most of their food by plunge-diving or surface feeding rather than swimming.
