Basic Description
The Parasitic Jaeger is a seabird found in the Northern Hemisphere. It has a distinctive shape and appearance, with long pointed wings and a slender tail. The bird measures around 45-60 cm in length, with a wingspan of up to 140cm. Its body feathers are mostly brownish-grey, while its head is more boldly patterned with white patches on the side.
Where To Find This Bird
If you’re looking to spot this magnificent bird during breeding season, then you’ll need to travel to Arctic regions such as Canada or Greenland. In North America, it migrates southwards along both coasts during winter months and can be spotted from Alaska down through Baja California.
Habitat
The Parasitic Jaeger prefers living near open oceans where fish populations are abundant enough for hunting their prey. During breeding season they will nest in rocky areas that provide plenty of cover from predators such as gulls and eagles.
Food
As their name implies, these birds are known for being parasitic feeders – they actively pursue other seabirds until they cough up partially digested fish which serve as food for the jaegers! They also hunt small fish themselves by plunging into the water at high speeds or by snatching them off the surface using their sharp talons.
Cool Facts
Despite being classified as Least Concern by IUCN Red List due to stable populations worldwide (around 500k individuals), there’s always something exciting about seeing one of these elusive birds out at sea! Here are some fun facts:
-They have been observed chasing larger birds like Gulls until they drop their recently caught meal!
-The species relies heavily on lemmings’ population cycles — when lemming numbers crash so does jaeger’s reproductive success.
-Parasitic Jaegers are also known to attack humans when they get too close to their nesting sites, though this behavior is rare.
In conclusion, the Parasitic Jaeger is an amazing bird with fascinating hunting tactics and a unique appearance making it worth looking for on your next ocean voyage! Keep in mind though that like all creatures of nature, the best way to enjoy them is from a distance so as not to disturb their habitat or natural behaviors.
