Long-tailed Jaeger
Stercorarius longicaudus
Visual Identification
Appearance
The Long-tailed Jaeger is characterized by its sleek, gull-like body with long, pointed wings and an extremely elongated central tail feather. Adults display a pale gray body, white underparts, and a distinctive black cap contrasting with white cheeks. The bill is brown at the base, darkening to a hooked black tip.
In breeding plumage, adults have a yellowish hue on the neck. Juveniles and non-breeding adults lack the long tail streamers and have a more mottled brown appearance, with barred underparts.
Females and males are similar in both basic and alternate plumages, although females are slightly darker.
Size
Length
48cm to 58cm
Wingspan
105cm to 117cm
Weight
230g to 350g
Colours
Males and females have similar plumage
Primary Colour
Grey White
Secondary Colour
Black Brown
Beak Colour
Black
Leg Colour
Black
Habitat and Distribution
Habitats
Woodland
Garden
Wetland
Coastal
Urban
Farmland
Grassland
Desert
Tundra
Rainforest
Mountain
Savanna
Distribution
Long-tailed Jaegers breed in the Arctic tundra across North America, Europe, and Asia. They prefer open, treeless areas with low vegetation for nesting. During the non-breeding season, they become pelagic, spending most of their time in the open ocean.
In winter, they migrate to tropical and subtropical waters of the Southern Hemisphere. They can be observed along coastal areas of the UK and North America during migration periods.
Elevation Range
Sea level to 1,300 meters
Climate zones
Arctic, Subarctic, Temperate, Tropical
Distribution Map
This map gives you a rough idea of where you might spot a Long-tailed Jaeger. The coloured areas show countries where these birds have been seen.
A few things to keep in mind:
- Birds might not be everywhere in the coloured areas, for example, they may be present around the coast of that country
- Where birds live can change with seasons and available food
- This map is quite simple - it doesn't show exact locations
We're working on making our maps even better! Soon, we hope to show you:
- More detailed maps for bigger countries, including state and region
- How birds move around during different seasons
Distribution by Region
Behaviour and Ecology
Bird Attributes
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Share your thoughtsBird Attributes Explained
Our bird attributes system rates various aspects of a bird's capabilities on a scale of 0-100, based on data from field observations, scientific studies, and expert knowledge.
Attribute Categories:
- Agility: Manoeuvrability, speed, and grace in flight or movement.
- Strength: Physical power, often correlating with size and hunting abilities.
- Adaptability: Ability to thrive in various environments or changing conditions.
- Aggressiveness: Territorial behaviour and assertiveness, particularly during breeding seasons.
- Endurance: Stamina, often seen in migration patterns or foraging behaviours.
Understanding the Ratings:
- 0-20: Very Low
- 21-40: Low
- 41-60: Average
- 61-80: High
- 81-100: Very High
Remember, these attributes are relative to other bird species and don't necessarily indicate superiority.
Hover over the icon next to each attribute for more information.
Tap the icon next to each attribute for more information.
Agility
Reflects the bird's manoeuvrability, speed, and grace in flight or movement.
The Long-tailed Jaeger exhibits exceptional agility, with graceful, buoyant flight and the ability to perform elaborate aerial displays. Their capacity to hover, glide low, and execute high-speed chases up to 70 mph demonstrates remarkable manoeuvrability.
Strength
Indicates the bird's physical power, often correlating with size and hunting abilities.
Whilst not exceptionally strong for their size, Long-tailed Jaegers possess sufficient strength to engage in aerial pursuits and steal food from other seabirds. Their ability to undertake long-distance migrations also indicates a robust physical constitution.
Adaptability
Represents the bird's ability to thrive in various environments or changing conditions.
These birds show high adaptability, thriving in diverse environments from Arctic tundra to tropical oceans. Their opportunistic feeding habits, ability to switch between terrestrial and pelagic lifestyles, and capacity to navigate vast migration routes underscore their adaptability.
Aggressiveness
Measures the bird's territorial behaviour and assertiveness, particularly during breeding seasons.
Long-tailed Jaegers display significant aggression, particularly during breeding season. They fiercely defend their territories, performing aggressive dives to ward off intruders. Their behaviour of harassing other seabirds to steal food also indicates a notable level of assertiveness.
Endurance
Reflects the bird's stamina, often seen in migration patterns or foraging behaviours.
The endurance of Long-tailed Jaegers is impressive, evidenced by their long-distance migrations covering over 14,000 miles annually. Their ability to spend extended periods at sea, including the first two years of life, further demonstrates exceptional stamina and resilience.
Diet
Long-tailed Jaegers are opportunistic feeders. They primarily consume small rodents like lemmings, especially collared lemmings, which are essential during the breeding season. Young birds and some insects are also eaten.
They feed on fish at sea, often obtained by harassing other seabirds to steal their catch, and waste from ships may also be eaten. They also eat insects, berries, and bird eggs when available.
Behaviour
Long-tailed Jaegers are known for their graceful, buoyant flight. They often hover and glide low over the tundra while foraging.
During the breeding season, they fiercely defend their territories, performing elaborate aerial displays and aggressive dives to ward off intruders.
Vocalisation
Long-tailed Jaegers have a variety of vocalizations, including a shrill ‘krii-krii-krii’ call, consisting of around 20 short, long and then short notes, lasting for around 10 seconds. It is usually heard as a contact call around other long-tailed jaegers.
When alarmed, they produce a rapid series of 'kip-kip-kip' or 'kweek' notes. During courtship, pairs may engage in duets of soft, purring sounds.
Nesting & Breeding
Long-tailed Jaegers form monogamous pairs and begin breeding in late spring. They engage in elaborate courtship displays, including aerial acrobatics and ground-based rituals.
Nests are simple scrapes on the ground, often on slightly elevated areas in the tundra. Females typically lay two olive-brown eggs with dark spots. Both parents share incubation duties.
The incubation period lasts about 23-25 days, and chicks fledge after 22-27 days. Young birds reach sexual maturity at 3-4 years of age.
Conservation and Status
Global Conservation Status
While currently listed as Least Concern, Long-tailed Jaegers face potential threats from climate change affecting their Arctic breeding grounds. Oil spills and marine pollution in their wintering areas also pose risks. Ongoing monitoring is crucial to assess long-term population trends.
Birdwatching Tips
- Look for their distinctive long tail streamers during the breeding season
- Observe their graceful flight patterns over open tundra or at sea
- Listen for their harsh, mewing calls during territorial displays
- In North America, watch for them during fall migration along coastal areas
Additional Information
Quick Facts
Predators
Adult Long-tailed Jaegers have few natural predators, but Arctic foxes, Snowy Owls, and larger gulls may prey on eggs and chicks.
Did You Know?
- Long-tailed Jaegers can fly up to 70 mph during high-speed chases.
- They have been recorded to travel over 14,000 miles in a year during migration.
- Unlike most seabirds, they spend their first two years of life entirely at sea.
References
- 1 2 3
website: BirdLife International. 2018. Stercorarius longicaudus. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2018: e.T22694251A132536719.
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