Bird Guide

Long-tailed Jaeger vs Parasitic Jaeger

Long-tailed Jaeger (Stercorarius longicaudus)

Long-tailed Jaeger

Stercorarius longicaudus

Medium288 gMarine

This species is unmistakable as an adult, with grey back, dark primary wing feathers without a white "flash", black cap and very long tail. Adults often hover over their breeding territories. Juveniles are much more problematic, and are difficult to separate from parasitic jaeger over the sea. They are slimmer, longer-winged and more tern-like than that species, but show the same wide range of plumage variation. However, they are usually colder toned than Arctic, with greyer shades, rather than brown. This is the smallest of the skua family at 38–58 cm (15–23 in), depending on season and age.

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Sonogram of the Long-tailed Jaeger
Recorded by Davyd Betchkal · Call · Amiloyak Lake, Gates of the Arctic National Park, AK, United States · CC0
Photo: Per Willy Bøe · CC BY 4.0
Parasitic Jaeger (Stercorarius parasiticus)

Parasitic Jaeger

Stercorarius parasiticus

Large444 gMarine

Identification is complicated by similarities to long-tailed jaeger and pomarine jaeger, and the existence of three colour morphs. Small for a skua, the parasitic jaeger measures 41–48 cm (16–19 in) in length, 107–125 cm (42–49 in) in wingspan and weighs 300–650 g (11 oz – 1 lb 7 oz). The tail streamer of the breeding adult accounts for about 7 cm (3 in) of their length. Light-morph adults have a brown back, mainly white underparts and dark primary wing feathers with a white "flash". The head and neck are yellowish-white with a black cap and there is a pointed central tail projection.

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Sonogram of the Parasitic Jaeger
Recorded by Teet Sirotkin · Flight call · Stormyra, Kongsfjord, Finnmark, Norway · CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Billy Lindblom · CC BY 2.0

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Photos and recordings are credited to their authors under the licence shown. Full profiles: Long-tailed Jaeger and Parasitic Jaeger.