Verification of Unusual
Sight Record
For Utah
Rec. # 2021-57
| Common name: |
Long-tailed Jaeger |
| Scientific name: | Stercorarius longicaudus |
| Date: | 08/21/2021 |
| Time: | 10:40 am |
| Length of time observed: | 10 sec |
| Number: | 1 |
| Age: | adult or subadult |
| Sex: | unknown |
| Location: | north shore trail lehi/saragota springs |
| County: | Utah |
| Latilong: | 40.3603241, -111.8681205 |
| Elevation: | 4500 |
| Distance to bird: | 5 feet when it flew overhead then followed till lost in flock of scattering gulls maybe 50 yards |
| Optical equipment: | Lieca binoculars 8x42 |
| Weather: | clear |
| Light Conditions: | good mid morning |
| Description: Size of bird: | aprox gull size |
| (Description:) Basic Shape: | Gull like. long narrow pointy wings |
| (Description:) Overall Pattern: | Dark brown head, belly white with smudges on side, wings dark |
| (Description:) Bill Type: | tubular |
|
(Description:)
Field Marks and Identifying Characteristics: |
The long pointed central tail feathers extended from the rest of the tail about
the same length as the tail. My "in the field" estimate was about 6 inches long.
The undertail coverts were strongly barred black and white. The belly was mostly
white. The head and breast were dark brown with a paler brown collar barely
showing through on the nape. The underwings did not seem to have white at the
base of the primaries but there was checkering on underwing like a juvenile. Did
not get a good look at the upper wing or the bill. At first I thought it was a
Parasitic Jaeger because of the pointed tail and the chocolate colored head. Since it didn't match anything in the field guide I reviewed ebird photos for something similar and the exact match was: https://ebird.org/checklist/S93457717 Macaulay Library ML 362454621 |
| Song or call & method of delivery: | none |
| Behavior: | harassing gulls |
| Habitat: | edge fresh water lake |
| Similar
species and
how were they eliminated: |
Pomarine Jeager: Pomarine Jaegers have rounded tips
to the central tail feathers and white at the base of the under primary Parasitic Jaeger: The 6 inch central tail feather extension seemed a little long for a parasitic jaeger. It had no white at the base of the primaries on the underwing |
| Previous
experience with this & similar species: |
Saw many parasitic jaegers in Iceland in July, 2021. Saw Pomarine Jaeger at Lee Kay ponds. Saw an adult Long-tailed Jaeger in Alaska |
| References consulted: |
Sibley second addition and phone app. since it didn't match, reviewed ebird photos at home and found a very similar photo https://ebird.org/checklist/S93457717 Macaulay Library ML 362454621 |
| Description from: | Notes taken at the time of the sighting |
| Observer: | Karen Welch |
| Observer's address: | 11045 North 5550 west Highland utah 84003 |
| Observer's e-mail address: | ** |
| Other observers who independently identified this bird: | |
| Date prepared: | 10/02/2021 |
| Additional material: | |
| Additional comments: |