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Long-tailed Jaeger
Stercorarius longicaudus
NatureServe conservation status
Global (G-rank): G5
State (S-rank): SNA
External links
Species range
Circumpolar. BREEDS: in arctic of Alaska, Canada and Greenland; in Old World from Jan Mayen, Spitsbergen, northern Eurasia. NONBREEDING: at sea in Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, more commonly in cold southern localities (Godfrey 1966) such as off Argentina and Chile.
Migration
Migrates northward to nesting grounds, arriving late May-June (mostly mid-June on Banks Island). Migrating birds are uncommon off west coast, very rare inland and off east and Gulf coasts (National Geographic Society 1983). Nonbreeders begin southward migration in early July, breeders depart August-September. Migrates through tropics April-May and September-October (Pratt et al. 1987).
Habitat
Nonbreeding: pelagic, casually along seacoasts and on inland waters (AOU 1983). Nests in open or alpine tundra, flats with sparse vegetation, and moorlands (AOU 1983). Most often in well-drained upland areas, also in dry tundra in low-lying areas; nest usually on mound or hummock (Johnson and Herter 1989). Nests on the ground in a depression, into which it may scrape small amounts of grass, leaves or moss. May nest among rocks.
Food habits
On tundra feeds on lemmings and mice; also eats insects, fishes, carrion, berries, and eggs and small birds. Less apt to harry seabirds for food than are other jaegers (Terres 1980). Young initially are fed insects for a few days, then change to lemmings partially digested by parent (Johnson and Herter 1989).
Ecology
Pairs defend large territories, but often hunt over an area larger than the territory; in northern Sweden, hunted up to 2.7 kilometers from nuest, usually less than 700 meters (Andersson 1971).
Reproductive characteristics
Eggs are laid mainly mid- to late June. Both adults, in turn, incubate 2, sometimes 1-3, eggs for 23-25 days. Hatching was recorded in second week of July on Ellesmere Island. Young are tended by both parents, fledge in 22-28 days, attended by adults for 10-21 days after fledging. Second-hatched chick in most broods usually does not survive (Johnson and Herter 1989).
