Small, very short-legged, three-cycle gull. Alternate Adult: clean white head, underparts and tail, large dark eye and bright yellow, stubby bill. Slate-gray back and wings with white trailing edge and all black wingtips, bright red legs. In flight: shows narrow white trailing edge on wings, white head, underparts and tail, solid black (as though dipped in ink) wingtips, and gray wings, back and under-wings. Basic Adult: similar to breeding, but has black ear spot and small dusky smudge in front of eye. First cycle: similar to adult non-breeding but has black tipped bill, dusky wash on nape, dark collar on hind-neck, larger ear spot and smudge around eye, paler pinkish-red legs. Wide white trailing edge on upper wing appears as white triangle on trailing edge in flight. Juvenile: similar to first summer, but all black bill and darker on head and neck.

Length: 38 (cm) Wingspan: 84 (cm)

Habitat:

Open ocean with sea cliffs for nesting and roosting.

Behavior:

Often associated with seabirds and other gulls, especially around schools of fish. Nests in mixed colonies, often with Black-legged Kittiwakes.

Feeding:

Diet consists of fish, squid and zooplankton.