Wildlifeof Sri Lanka
Parasitic Jaeger
Gulls, Terns & Skuas
Photo: Fyn Kynd · CC BY-SA 4.0 (May be cropped or resized)
Stercorarius parasiticus
Basic stats
Range
Breeds in northern Fennoscandia, Scotland, Iceland, Greenland, northern Canada, Alaska and Siberia; winters across the southern hemisphere
The parasitic jaeger, or Arctic skua, is a migratory seabird of the skua family. It breeds in northern Fennoscandia, Scotland, Iceland, Greenland, northern Canada, Alaska and Siberia and winters across the southern hemisphere. Kleptoparasitism, chasing other birds to make them drop food, is a major source of food during migration and winter, and gives the bird its name (Wikipedia, general species account).
It is easily confused with the long-tailed and pomarine jaegers, and occurs in three colour morphs. It has no subspecies. The word jaeger is German for hunter. The 2012 National Red List gives no status under this name.
Quick answers
- Where is the Parasitic Jaeger found?
- Breeds in northern Fennoscandia, Scotland, Iceland, Greenland, northern Canada, Alaska and Siberia; winters across the southern hemisphere