- Rissa brevirostris
Identification
35-40 cm. Red legs, curved yellow bill. All-white head, white underparts, white tail, grey back and wings with black tips. During the non-breeding season, there is black smudge on each side of the head, behind the eyes. Juveniles show these black facial marks, and a grey-black collar along the back of the head.
Distribution
Pribilof, Bogoslof and Buldir islands of the USA, and the Commander Islands, Russia in the Bering Sea.
Taxonomy
Monotypic.
Habitat
Cliffs.
Behaviour
Both sexes build a shallow cup nest of mud, grass and kelp. 1-2 eggs are laid and incubated by both parents who also both care for the young.
The diet includes small fish (especially lampfish and Pollock), squid, and marine zooplankton.
External Links
GSearch checked for 2020 platform.1