kittiwake

[ kit-ee-weyk ]

noun

1. either of two small, pearl-gray gulls of the genus Rissa, the black-legged R. tridactyla of the North Atlantic and the red-legged and red-billed R. brevirostris, of the Bering Sea, both nesting on narrow cliff ledges and having a rudimentary hind toe.

kittiwake

/ ˈkɪtɪˌweɪk /

noun

1. either of two oceanic gulls of the genus Rissa, esp R. tridactyla, having a white plumage with pale grey black-tipped wings and a square-cut tail

Word History and Origins

Origin of kittiwake¹

First recorded in 1655–65; imitative

Word History and Origins

Origin of kittiwake¹

C17: of imitative origin

Example Sentences

Five other seabirds were already on the list - the puffin, kittiwake, herring gull, roseate tern and arctic skua.

From BBC

A census carried out by the charity found the numbers of fulmars, guillemots, razorbills and kittiwakes on the remote archipelago has fallen dramatically.

From BBC

NTS said positive tests on two kittiwakes at St Abb's Head were not unexpected due to the number of dead birds, but stressed many thousands of others were still doing well.

From BBC

As well as puffins, there are razorbills, kittiwakes, Manx shearwaters, guillemots and fulmars.

From BBC

Bempton Cliffs is a site of special scientific interest where half a million seabirds, including puffins, gannets, kittiwakes and guillemots, breed each year.

From BBC