Labbe parasite

Identification

Identification is complicated by similarities to long-tailed jaeger and pomarine jaeger, and the existence of three colour morphs. Small for a skua, the parasitic jaeger measures 41–48 cm (16–19 in) in length, 107–125 cm (42–49 in) in wingspan and weighs 300–650 g (11 oz – 1 lb 7 oz). The tail streamer of the breeding adult accounts for about 7 cm (3 in) of their length. Light-morph adults have a brown back, mainly white underparts and dark primary wing feathers with a white "flash". The head and neck are yellowish-white with a black cap and there is a pointed central tail projection. Dark-morph adults are dark brown, and intermediate-phase birds are dark with somewhat paler underparts, head and neck. All morphs have the white wing flash.<p>Identification of juveniles is even more problematic, and it is difficult to separate parasitic jaegers from long-tailed jaegers. Parasitic jaegers are bulkier, shorter-winged, and less tern-like than long-tailed jaegers. They are usually warmer toned, with browner shades, rather than grey. However, they show the same wide range of plumage variation. The flight is more falcon-like. The parasitic jaeger is the most common of the three jaeger species seen from shore.<p>The typical call of these birds is a nasal mewing sound, repeated a few times in display. Their alarm call is a shorter sound.

Taxonomie

Genre : Stercorarius ; famille : Stercorariidae ; ordre : Charadriiformes.

Nom scientifique

Stercorarius parasiticus

Autorité

(Linnaeus, 1758)

Ordre

Charadriiformes

Famille

Stercoraire

Genre

Stercorarius

Répartition et habitat

Breeding range: NA, PAL : Holarctic low Arctic tundra, locally high Arctic and subarctic: w, s Greenland, Iceland, n Scotland, Scandinavian coasts including Baltic Sea, Svalbard (n of Norway), n Russia to ne Siberia and Kamchatka, Aleutian and Bering Sea is., w and sw Alaska, Arctic Canada (except n high Arctic islands) to Baffin I. and ec Canada. Non-breeding range: to high-productivity subtropical to tropical coastal waters of s continents: coastal w, s, ec Africa, Persian Gulf, e coast Arabian Sea (w India and Sri Lanka), n Indian Ocean, Australia and New Zealand, Peru, Chile and ec Argentina.

Aire de reproduction

NA, PAL : Holarctic low Arctic tundra, locally high Arctic and subarctic: w, s Greenland, Iceland, n Scotland, Scandinavian coasts including Baltic Sea, Svalbard (n of Norway), n Russia to ne Siberia and Kamchatka, Aleutian and Bering Sea is., w and sw Alaska, Arctic Canada (except n high Arctic islands) to Baffin I. and ec Canada

Aire hors reproduction

to high-productivity subtropical to tropical coastal waters of s continents: coastal w, s, ec Africa, Persian Gulf, e coast Arabian Sea (w India and Sri Lanka), n Indian Ocean, Australia and New Zealand, Peru, Chile and ec Argentina

Migration

Migrateurs complets

Comportement

Mode de migration: Migrateurs complets.

Conservation

Tendance de la population: stable.

Tendance de la population

stable