Jaegers

Last updated 3/20/96

Jaegers are rare pelagic visitors to the UTC. Dark falcon or hawklike birds they show a flash of light on the primary flight feathers and in adult birds protruding central tail feathers. They are know for chasing gulls to rob them. A successful stratagy used by many to find Jaegers is watch for a shrimp boat working close to shore with a large flock of gulls. The powerful flight of the Jaeger, its larger size than our common Laughing Gull, and its darker color will make it stand out in the flock.

Parasitic Jaeger

This is the more common and smaller of the Jaegers. The tail streamers are pointed, but this is a difficult fieldmark to judge on these fast moving birds. About the size of a Ring-billed Gull with a less prominent breast-band than a Pomarine Jaeger.

Pomarine Jaeger

The larger of the two Jaegers of the UTC. The tail streamers are longer and spoon-shaped. Becareful of this fieldmark. The shape of the streamers may not be easy to judge and just because you don't see the spoon-shape don't call it a Parasitic on this mark alone.

Pomarine Jaegers are larger than Parasitic, about the size of a Herring Gull. They are often often heavily barred below. The breast band is broad. Pomarine shows more white on the primaries in flight, may show a second pale underwing patch (most birds?)

Look for Jaegers on the Gulf of Mexico from Late August though April. Jaegers breed on the high tundra and winter at sea. Back to the Bird Index