Stercorarius parasiticus
The Parasitic Jaeger, *Stercorarius parasiticus*, is a medium-sized, agile seabird renowned for its piratical feeding habits. Measuring 41-46 cm in length with a wingspan of 107-125 cm and weighing 300-600g, it exhibits two main color morphs: a pale morph with a dark cap and back contrasting with a white belly and breast, and a dark morph uniformly sooty-brown. A key identification feature across all morphs is the two elongated, pointed central tail feathers, often twisted, which project beyo...
This species primarily inhabits open Arctic tundra during the breeding season and is highly pelagic, spending non-breeding months over vast expanses of tropical and temperate oceans. It prefers low-lying coastal and inland tundra with access to shallow wetlands for nesting.
The diet primarily consists of lemmings and voles during the breeding season, supplemented by bird eggs, chicks, insects, berries, and carrion. At sea, they primarily consume fish and crustaceans obtained through kleptoparasitism or by skimming the surface.
Parasitic Jaegers are primarily diurnal, though they may forage at dawn and dusk, and generally roost on open ground or at sea. Their most distinctive foraging strategy is kleptoparasitism, relentlessly chasing gulls, terns, and other seabirds until they drop or regurgitate their catch, which the...
The Parasitic Jaeger boasts a circumpolar breeding range, primarily across the Arctic tundra of North America (Alaska, Arctic Canada), Greenland, Iceland, Svalbard, Northern Europe (Fennoscandia), and Siberia. Post-breeding, these birds undertake one of the most extensive migrations of any bird, ...
Least Concern
- The "Parasitic" in its name refers to its unique feeding strategy of stealing food from other birds, a behavior known as kleptoparasitism. - They are one of the most widespread seabirds, performing vast trans-equatorial migrations from the Arctic to the Southern Hemisphere each year. - Parasiti...