Jaegers

Birds of North America

Stercorariidae

Lives, Habitats & Pictures of the Jaegers

There are three types of jaegers found in North America. The Pomarine Jaeger is the largest among them and having the smallest northern breeding range. The Parasitic Jaeger is the second largest and has the largest breeding range through the Arctic among the group of three. Lastly, the Long-tailed Jaeger is the smallest, easily identified among the three jaegers by its non-streaking flanks and its almost all white head, except for its small black cap.

Jaegers are predators, feeding on mice and lemmings found in the tundra. One of their tactics is chasing and harassing gulls, terns, kittiwakes and other smaller birds to give up their foods. These birds are easily recognized by their dark browm plumage and the large white area seen in their outer primaries. Saying this, the Pomarine Jaeger and the Parasitic Jaegers have many similarities among them. Given a clear view, one can examine the size and build of the bird, its bill size and length, with the Pomarine Jaeger having the larger size and heavier bill. If, the birds are sitting on the water, the Parasitic Jaeger can be better recognized by its noticeably longer tail feathers.

Click on the bird name below to see the Habitat and Range Map o f Jaegers