About the Parasitic Jaeger
The parasitic jaeger or arctic skua, also known as the parasitic skua or arctic jaeger, is a seabird in the skua family Stercorariidae. It is a migratory species breeding in Northern Fennoscandia, Scotland, Iceland, Greenland, Northern Canada, Alaska, and Siberia and wintering across the southern hemisphere. Kleptoparasitism is a major source of food for this species during migration and winter, and is where the name is derived from.
Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
ID tip
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.
Text from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
What the Parasitic Jaeger sounds like
Where it lives
Recorded as a rare visitor in Algeria, Gabon, Barbados, Guyana, Suriname, Cambodia, Maldives, Croatia, Moldova, Malta, Fiji, Northern Mariana Islands, Vanuatu, Nigeria, Tanzania, Martinique, Timor-Leste, Solomon Islands.
When to see it
Peak activity in September · a variable species across most of its range
Easily confused with
Pomarine JaegerStercorarius pomarinusThis species ranges from 46 to 67 cm (18 to 26 in) in length, 110 to 138 cm (43 to 54 in) in wingspan and 540–920 g (1.19–2.03 lb) in weight.
Long-tailed JaegerStercorarius longicaudusThis species is unmistakable as an adult, with grey back, dark primary wing feathers without a white "flash", black cap and very long tail.
Great SkuaStercorarius skuaGreat skuas measure 50–58 cm (20–23 in) long and have a 125–140 cm (49–55 in) wingspan.
Side by side: Parasitic Jaeger vs Pomarine Jaeger · Long-tailed Jaeger vs Parasitic Jaeger · Great Skua vs Parasitic Jaeger
Learn the Parasitic Jaeger for real
BeakBrain drills you on photos and calls until you can greet this bird by name in the field. Free to play, on any device.
Play BeakBrainEvery photo and recording on this page is credited to its author under the licence shown. Spotted a problem with this page, or have a better photo? Contribute.