Birds of North Carolina
their Distribution and Abundance
Scientific Name:
Common Name:
 Family (Alpha):
LARIDAE Members: Black-legged Kittiwake 296
General Comments
The Black-legged Kittiwake is one of just two (along with the Sabine's) essentially pelagic gulls that have been recorded in the state, whereby a birder must typically take a boat trip to see it. It is difficult to state its "historical" numbers in our waters, as very few pelagic trips were taken prior to the 1970's, and even until a few years ago, often only a single winter trip was made each year to the cold waters off the Outer Banks, where most of the birds occur. The species was found on the majority of such trips until about 2005, but the species has been more difficult to find in the past several winters. Even so, it is a species that an observer would expect to see at least one or two in midwinter off the northern coast, and less likely farther south, but not necessarily on a given trip. Though there have been inland records for many if not most states to our north and west (including Tennessee, with at least five records), it was not until Fall 2015 that the species was finally found inland in North Carolina, with photographic records from both the Piedmont and the mountains.
Breeding Status
Nonbreeder
NC BRC List
Definitive
State Status
none
U.S. Status
Definitive
State Rank
S1N
Global Rank
G5
Coastal Plain
Winter resident offshore; strongly declining. From the late 1990's to about 2005, generally fairly common in winter off the northern half of the coast (Cape Hatteras northward), and uncommon southward off the coast. Since 2005, typically uncommon from Cape Hatteras northward, and rare to very uncommon southward. By 2025 it has become rare even in this cold-water area on pelagic trips. Infrequently seen from shore, and mainly from that cape northward; birds can at times be seen resting on beaches or tidal pools (but most of these are probably sick or oiled). One record for the Tidewater zone, of an immature seen in northeastern Pamlico on 30 Apr 1982 (Chat 46:120); however, there are no farther inland records. Mainly late Oct to the end of Mar, with peak counts presumably in late Jan to mid-Feb. Oddly, there are seven reports of the species from the coast (Oregon Inlet to Cape Hatteras) from 14-30 May! Most of these, seen by a variety of experienced observers, are apparently birds seen from shore, in a very late northbound migration. Most notable was an immature that stayed in the vicinity of a pier in Wrightsville Beach from 8-21 Dec 2022! Either this individual or one or two others were seen at several piers in Carteret and Pender in spring 2023, with one remarkably late at a pier in Atlantic Beach (Carteret) on 22-23 May 2023. Remarkably early were two, one photographed, at Cape Hatteras point on 17 Sep 2024. Peak counts: 111, off Oregon Inlet, 24 Jan 1998; 90, off Hatteras Inlet, 28 Jan 1996. Peak count from shore, a remarkable 89, mostly first-year birds, seen at Cape Hatteras point on 27 Dec 2018 (Chat 83:60); 41, from this same point, on 22 Dec 2022.
Piedmont
Casual in late fall, with four accepted records: an immature seen and photographed at Beaverdam Reservoir (Wake) on 29 Nov 2015* (Chat 80:15), (Chat 80:37); an immature seen and photographed at Lake Hickory on 17 Nov 2017* (Chat 82:36), (Chat 82:57); and an immature photographed again at Lake Hickory on 2-3 Nov 2021* (Chat 86:34); and an immature photographed at Lake Crabtree (Wake) on 5 Nov 2023* (Chat 88:56). An adult seen at Falls Lake (Wake) on 26 Nov 2023 is to be sent by the NC BRC for outside review (Chat 88:58). Photographs of the 2015 and 2017 birds are on the Carolina Bird Club Photo Gallery.
Mountain
Accidental: an immature was seen and photographed at Lake Julian (Buncombe) on the remarkably early date on 11 Sep 2015* (Chat 80:14), (Chat 80:37). Photographs are on the Carolina Bird Club Photo Gallery. Two were observed in flight over Ecusta Pond (Transylvania) on 11 Dec 2022; this report has not yet been reviewed by the NC BRC.
Finding Tips
If you take a pelagic trip from Cape Hatteras northward during the winter, you now have about a 50% chance of seeing a kittiwake; however, this percentage seems to be declining every winter. There are numerous pelagic trip reports from south of that Cape, but south of Morehead City, kittiwakes would likely be missed more often than seen. Kittiwakes are normally seen over colder water inshore of the Gulf Stream. If you are unwilling to go offshore in winter, your best chance is to stand watch at Cape Hatteras or Cape Lookout, especially during easterly winds. A number of records of birds along the coast are of oiled birds.