Parasitic Jaeger

Stercorarius parasiticus
deeqiidGaaG (Eyak)

Description

There are three species of Jaegers: Parasitic, Long-tailed (S. longicaudus), and Pomarine (S. pomarinus). The Long-tailed and Parasitic Jaegers breed in the Chugach region, whereas Pomarine Jaegers only pass through during their migration. All three species winter at sea in the lower latitudes.

The easiest way to tell jaegers apart in breeding plumage is by their tails. Long-tailed Jaegers have long tails about the length of their body. Parasitic Jaegers have much shorter and straight central tail feathers in contrast to the Pomarine which has tail feathers of similar length but are twisted and spoon shaped. Juvenile Long-tailed Jaegers are harder to differentiate from parasitic Jaegers. The Parasitic Jaegers measure roughly 16-19 inches in length and 42-49 inches in their wingspans. Jaegers come in many different color morphs, the Long-tailed Jaegers are typically a cooler tone gray/black color, and the Parasitic Jaeger has more of a brown/black color accompanied with a white “flash” on their wings. Both species have a black cap, but the surrounding plumage is yellow white in color on the Parasitic Jaeger. Long-tailed Jaegers make a harsh “kreeah” call and the Parasitic Jaeger make a nasally mewing sound.

Habitat and Status

The Parasitic Jaeger nests on dry tundra, higher hills, and islands where it lays typically two up to four olive-brown eggs. Unlike the other species of jaegers, Parasitic Jaegers often nest in small colonies. Whether in colonies or alone, the male vigilantly stands sentinel on the nesting ground while also sharing in incubation when his mate needs to feed. When a predator or person ventures near, the birds will vigorously flap their wings, jump around and whimper loudly to try to distract the intruder. If that doesn’t do the trick, both birds will aggressively dive bomb to drive the intruder away. The Parasitic Jaeger feeds on rodents, insects, eggs, chicks, and small birds, but mostly from food that it steals from other birds.

Parasitic Jaegers are currently common across the Arctic in North American and Eurasia where they are called skuas. They are somewhat protected by the fact that they nest in remote tundra and rocky habitats, and winter at sea. However, climate models suggest that by 2080 about one-third of their suitable breeding range will diminish even as their wintering range decreases by 84%.

Distribution of Parasitic Jaegers in the Chugach Region.

Traditional Use

None of the ethnographic or oral history sources consulted for the Chugach Region mention jaegers. However, the Yup’ik name given in Scammon Bay for the Parasitic Jaeger is Yungaq, which refers to its hawk-like qualities. All over the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta there is also a generic word for jaeger — melugyuli— meaning “the one that sucks.” This name refers to the way jaegers prey on the eggs of other birds they find on the tundra. Where its hawkishness may be admired, this egg-sucking trait is not appreciated as it competes with the Yup’ik custom of harvesting eggs of ducks and geese and other birds in the spring.

Continue Your Search Below