Black-Legged Kittiwake Rissa Tridactyla This Primarily Pelagic Gull Is a Highly Irregular Winter Visitor to San Diego County

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Black-Legged Kittiwake Rissa Tridactyla This Primarily Pelagic Gull Is a Highly Irregular Winter Visitor to San Diego County

Gulls and Terns — Family Laridae 247 Black-legged Kittiwake Rissa tridactyla This primarily pelagic gull is a highly irregular winter visitor to San Diego County. In some years there are none; in most, there are few; occasionally, the species is abundant. It is best looked for during the strong northwest winds following winter storms, when the birds are driven to shore and may rest on the beach. Winter: Because of the orientation of the coastline, La Jolla Photo by Kenneth W. Fink (P7) is the site where the kittiwake is most easily seen in San Diego County, as for other pelagic birds. During the only major invasion that hit shore during the atlas period, Migration: The earliest date known for the Black-legged February–April 2001, seawatching at La Jolla yielded up to Kittiwake is 16 November (1962, one on San Diego Bay, 142 in 3.5 hours on 13 February 2001 (B. L. Sullivan, NAB AFN 17:69, 1963), but not until late December or January 55:228, 2001). On 11 February 1999 at least 60 were 30–40 does it become abundant. In spring, most depart in April miles west San Diego (P. Lonsdale, NAB 53:209, 1999), but and early May; in 2001, the latest bird was at La Jolla 21 none were seen from shore that winter. The largest known April (M. Wilson). After some invasions kittiwakes stay invasion was in 1975–76, when up to 350 were on the ocean into summer. In 1976, 60 remained at La Jolla on 17 May (J. within 5 miles of shore between San Diego and Del Mar 28 L. Dunn), six were still there 11 July (G. McCaskie), and one March 1976 (P. Unitt). There are three inland records, of was at the Oceanside harbor (H5) 8 October (A. Fries). single birds at Lake Henshaw (G17) 15 January 1981 (R. Taxonomy: Rissa t. pollicaris Ridgway, 1884, is the sub- Higson, AB 35:336, 1981), Lake Murray (Q11) 3 February species of Black-legged Kittiwake in the Pacific Ocean. 1976 (SDNHM 39849), and the east end of Sweetwater Reservoir (S13) 21 April 1995 (SDNHM 49172)..

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Order CHARADRIIFORMES: Waders, Gulls and Terns Suborder LARI
Text extracted from Gill B.J.; Bell, B.D.; Chambers, G.K.; Medway, D.G.; Palma, R.L.; Scofield, R.P.; Tennyson, A.J.D.; Worthy, T.H. 2010. Checklist of the birds of New Zealand, Norfolk and Macquarie Islands, and the Ross Dependency, Antarctica. 4th edition. Wellington, Te Papa Press and Ornithological Society of New Zealand. Pages 191, 223 & 227-228. Order CHARADRIIFORMES: Waders, Gulls and Terns The family sequence of Christidis & Boles (1994), who adopted that of Sibley et al. (1988) and Sibley & Monroe (1990), is followed here. Suborder LARI: Skuas, Gulls, Terns and Skimmers Condon (1975) and Checklist Committee (1990) recognised three subfamilies within the Laridae (Larinae, Sterninae and Megalopterinae) but this division has not been widely adopted. We follow Gochfeld & Burger (1996) in recognising gulls in one family (Laridae) and terns and noddies in another (Sternidae). The sequence of species for Stercorariidae and Laridae follows Peters (1934) and for Sternidae follows Bridge et al. (2005). Family LARIDAE Rafinesque: Gulls Laridia Rafinesque, 1815: Analyse de la Nature: 72 – Type genus Larus Linnaeus, 1758. Genus Larus Linnaeus Larus Linnaeus, 1758: Syst. Nat., 10th edition 1: 136 – Type species (by subsequent designation) Larus marinus Linnaeus. Gavia Boie, 1822: Isis von Oken, Heft 10: col. 563 – Type species (by subsequent designation) Larus ridibundus Linnaeus. Junior homonym of Gavia Moehring, 1758. Hydrocoleus Kaup, 1829: Skizz. Entw.-Gesch. Eur. Thierw.: 113 – Type species (by subsequent designation) Larus minutus Linnaeus. Chroicocephalus Eyton, 1836: Cat. Brit. Birds: 53 – Type species (by monotypy) Larus cucullatus Reichenbach = Larus pipixcan Wagler. Gelastes Bonaparte, 1853: Journ. für Ornith.
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