Skip to main content

Donate

Birds
Live Cams
Courses
Merlin Bird ID

Donate

Red-legged Kittiwake Sounds

Overview
ID info
Life History
Maps
Sounds

Long calls
Media Player Error
Update your browser or Flash plugin
Alaska, July 18, 2006Recorded by Sampath Seneviratne / Macaulay Library
Calls
Media Player Error
Update your browser or Flash plugin
Alaska, July 18, 2006Recorded by Sampath Seneviratne / Macaulay Library
Calls
Media Player Error
Update your browser or Flash plugin
Alaska, August 05, 2006Recorded by Sampath Seneviratne / Macaulay Library

Sounds provided by Macaulay Library.
Listen to more sounds of this species from the ML archive.

Calls

Very vocal at breeding colonies, but usually silent at sea. Common call is a loud “kee-ya” often repeated several times in a series. Other calls include a fast, high-pitched laughter-like series, and a long wail given while leaving the nest.

Compare with Similar Species

Click on an image to compare

Black-legged Kittiwake

Black-legged Kittiwake

Black-legged Kittiwake

Looking for ID Help?

Our free app offers quick ID help with global coverage.

Try Merlin Bird ID

Species in This Family

Gulls, Terns, and Skimmers(Order: Charadriiformes, Family: Laridae)

Red-legged Kittiwake

Black-legged Kittiwake

Bonaparte's Gull

Black-headed Gull

Franklin's Gull

Short-billed Gull

Ring-billed Gull

Yellow-footed Gull

Heermann's Gull

American Herring Gull

Great Black-backed Gull

Lesser Black-backed Gull

California Gull

Glaucous-winged Gull

Slaty-backed Gull

Gull-billed Tern

Browse Species in This Family

More to Read

Living Bird MagazineBirds of St. Matthew Island, the Most Remote Place in the United States
What can I do about a bird that sings all night long outside my window?
Living Bird MagazineAt Orchards and Vineyards, Birds Are Outperforming Pesticides
Binoculars and Beyond: Nine Tips for Beginning Birdwatchers
What's going on when I see little birds going after a big bird?
About Suet, Mealworms, and Other Bird Foods

About Us

Contact Us

Follow us

© 2025 Cornell University

Search for species name or keywords

Or Browse Bird Guide by Family or Shape

Need Bird ID Help? Try Merlin

Don't miss a thing! Join our email list

The Cornell Lab will send you updates about birds,
birding, and opportunities to help bird conservation.