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Range (Northern parts of the northern)

Northern parts of the northern hemisphere; in America, breeding commonly from the Magdalen Islands northward, and wintering as far south as the Great Lakes in the interior, and, on the coast, commonly to Long Island, and rarely to Virginia.

Long Island, common T. V., a few winter, Nov. to Mch. Nest, of grass, moss, and seaweed on the ledges of rocky cliffs. Eggs, three to four, varying from shades of buffy to grayish brown, distinctly and obscurely marked with chocolate, 2.25 × 1.60. "Our bird differs but little in its habits from other oceanic Gulls. Feeding chiefly on fish, but accepting any diet that drifts within range of its keen sight; drinking salt water in preference to fresh; breasting a gale with ease and grace-soaring in midair, skimming close above the crested waves, or swooping into the trough for a coveted morsel; resting upon the rolling billows, and sleeping serenely as they roll, with head tucked snugly under a wing; wandering in loose flocks, and making comrades of other wanderers; devoted to mate and young, and attached to all its kin-wherever seen or however employed, the Kittiwake is revealed as a typical gleaner of the sea. "The name is derived from the bird's singular cry, which resembles the syllables kitti-aa, kitti-aa" (Chamberlain). 42. Larus glaucus Brünn. GLAUCOUS GULL; BURGOMASTER. Ad. in summer. Back and wings pale pearl-gray; primaries lightly tinted with pearl, inner half of their inner webs and tips fading gradually into white; rest of the plumage pure white. Ad. in winter.-Similar to the above, but with the head and neck lightly streaked with grayish. Im.-Upper parts varying from ashy gray to white, the feathers widely barred, mottled, or streaked with buffy or ashy gray; primaries varying from pale smoky gray to pure white; tail ashy or brownish gray; under parts varying from dirty whitish to ashy gray, generally darker on the belly, sometimes mottled with buffy or grayish. (Birds of the second year are said to be pure white.) L., 28.00; W., 17-10; B., 2.35; depth of B. at projection on the lower mandible, 75 to 1.00; Tar., 2.60.