Black-legged Kittiwake adult/near-adult

Seen with many adult Ring-billed Gulls, with pattern simulating those birds. The kittiwake was a little smaller overall, slimmer with relatively longer wings, and flew differently, more graceful and elegant as it circled below the dam. Note small bill, yellowish with dark only along the nostril; bill is smaller than Ring-billeds and has an unusual shape with a slightly hooked appearance.

Dark ear spot is like many smaller gulls (such as Bonaparte's) and connects across the crown as a grey band. Just behind this band is another more subtle gray nuchal collar extending toward the upper breast, outlined by a pale band behind. These head/neck markings are suggestive of the much bolder pattern of first-cycle birds, and will be lost in pre-alternate molt to produce the clean white head and neck of breeding birds.

Note the "wings dipped in ink" pattern coined by Peterson many years ago, lacking the white mirrors and tips on the outermost primaries of adult Ring-billed (there is a tiny spot on P6 which is normal in BL Kittiwake). Second-cycle Ring-billeds can also lack or nearly lack white tips, but have far more extensive black on the primaries and primary coverts.