Long-tailed Jaeger: where and when to see them

The long-tailed jaeger, also called the long-tailed skua, is a slender seabird that breeds on Arctic tundra and spends much of the rest of the year at sea. Adults in breeding plumage carry remarkably elongated central tail feathers. Unlike its reputation as a pirate offshore, it relies heavily on small mammals when nesting. Breeding effort can fluctuate sharply with lemming abundance, making occupied territories unevenly distributed from year to year.

Size

35–41 cm body length, excluding tail streamers

Weight

230–350 g

Lifespan

Not reliably established

Status

Least Concern

During the breeding season, pairs defend open tundra territories and hunt by hovering, watching from low rises or searching on foot. Nesting success depends strongly on food availability, and many birds may refrain from breeding when rodents are scarce. At sea they migrate over enormous distances, picking food from the surface and sometimes chasing other seabirds. Adults defend nests vigorously, calling and making close aerial passes at intruders. Long-tailed jaegers are generally less aggressive than parasitic or pomarine jaegers when interacting with other seabirds, often gleaning food rather than engaging in sustained chases. During breeding, they exhibit a characteristic buoyant, tern-like flight, often hovering against the wind while scanning for prey.

• It is the smallest of the three species commonly called jaegers.
• Adult central tail feathers can add roughly 15–25 cm to overall length.
• Some pairs skip breeding when tundra rodents are scarce.
• Birds breeding in the far north spend the nonbreeding season over distant southern oceans.

June through August is the most relevant window for Arctic coastal travel near breeding habitat. Adults are easiest to identify when their tail streamers are intact. Migration sightings depend on geography and weather, while local breeding numbers respond to rodent cycles. Prime viewing opportunities in Arctic coastal regions extend from late June through July, as birds are actively nesting and foraging. Late August to early September can offer sightings of southbound migrants, often in small, loose groups.

Breeding habitat is open Arctic or alpine tundra, often on dry, sparsely vegetated ground with broad visibility. Outside breeding, long-tailed jaegers are predominantly pelagic. Coastal observation is most plausible near tundra breeding areas or during migration past exposed headlands. In the Arctic, long-tailed jaegers frequently select hummocky or slightly elevated dry ground, ensuring good drainage and a commanding view of their surroundings. Their wintering grounds are primarily pelagic in the southern oceans, ranging from the South Atlantic to the Pacific, far from any landmass.

Lemmings and other small rodents dominate the breeding diet where abundant. Birds also take insects, berries, eggs and small birds. At sea they eat fish and marine invertebrates, obtaining some prey through surface feeding and some by harassing other seabirds. At sea, they are opportunistic foragers, readily exploiting discards from fishing vessels or naturally occurring food patches. While lemmings are a key food source, their breeding success is often tied to the cyclical abundance of a variety of voles and other microtine rodents.

Common name

Long-tailed Jaeger

Scientific name

Stercorarius longicaudus

Animal group

Birds

Size

35–41 cm body length, excluding tail streamers

Weight

230–350 g

Lifespan

Not reliably established

Status

Least Concern

Identification

Breeding adults are smaller and more delicate than parasitic jaegers, with exceptionally long narrow tail streamers, a short bill and relatively little white in the upperwing. The elongated central tail feathers of breeding adults can extend up to 20 cm beyond the rest of the tail, making them unmistakable. Juveniles and non-breeding adults have a much shorter tail and can be distinguished by their slender build, small bill, and generally paler plumage compared to other jaeger species.