Long-tailed Jaeger

The Long-tailed Jaeger, known scientifically as Stercorarius longicaudus, is a distinctive seabird belonging to the skua family Stercorariidae. As an adult, it is characterized by a grey back, a black cap, and notably long tail streamers that can make up a significant portion of its total length. The wings are dark on the primary feathers, lacking the white "flash" seen in some relatives. This species is the smallest of the skua family, with a body length ranging from 38 to 58 centimeters, which can be extended by up to 29 centimeters due to the tail, particularly during the summer when the tail streamers of adults can reach 15 centimeters. The wingspan is between 102 to 117 centimeters, and the body mass varies from 230 to 444 grams.

Identification Tips

Adult Long-tailed Jaegers are unmistakable with their long tail streamers and hovering flight over breeding territories. Juveniles, however, present a challenge to identify, especially over the sea, where they can be confused with the Parasitic Jaeger. Juveniles are slimmer, longer-winged, and more tern-like than their relatives, typically exhibiting colder grey tones rather than brown.

Habitat

The Long-tailed Jaeger is a bird of the high Arctic, where it nests on dry tundra or higher fells.

Distribution

This species has a circumpolar distribution in the high Arctic regions of Eurasia and North America, with significant populations in Russia, Alaska, and Canada. It is migratory, wintering in the south Atlantic and Pacific oceans.

Behaviour

On their breeding grounds, Long-tailed Jaegers can be observed hovering and making yelping and rattling sounds. They are known for their fearlessness towards humans, especially juvenile birds during migration, which may even hunt small prey on ploughed fields or golf courses.

Song & Calls

The Long-tailed Jaeger produces a variety of sounds, including yelping and rattling noises on the breeding grounds. When at sea, they emit a harsh "kreeah" cry.

Breeding

The Long-tailed Jaeger lays two spotted olive-brown eggs in nests situated on the ground in their Arctic breeding habitats.

Diet and Feeding

This seabird's diet consists of fish, often obtained by kleptoparasitism from other seabirds, as well as smaller birds, food scraps, small mammals, fruit, and carrion. During migration, they are more inclined to catch their own food rather than steal from gulls and terns.

Conservation status

The Long-tailed Jaeger is currently listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List, indicating that it is not at immediate risk of population decline or extinction.