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Long-tailed Jaeger | Stercorarius longicaudus

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The Long-tailed Jaeger is a Southern African bird that belongs to the Laridae bird family group which includes birds such as Typical Shrikes.

The description for the Long-tailed Jaeger (Latin name Stercorarius longicaudus) can be found in the 7th Edition of the Roberts Birds of Southern Africa. The Stercorarius longicaudus can be quickly identified by its unique Roberts identification number of 308 and the detailed description of this bird is on page 436. You will find a picture of the Long-tailed Jaeger on page 416.

NOTE: The reference for the information following is "Roberts Birds of Southern Africa", 7th Edition*. This edition contained a number of taxonomic changes as well as changes to English names used traditionally and in earlier editions of most bird books in South Africa. The following paragraph notes such changes if any.

This bird is known as Long-tailed Skua in the Roberts 6th Edition. There have been no changes in the Latin name for the Long-tailed Jaeger between the Roberts 6th and Roberts 7th Edition

The Long-tailed Jaeger has a height of 40 cms and weighs around 275 gms. The head is coloured black while the bill is coloured black. The Stercorarius longicaudus has a grey coloured throat, black legs and a brown coloured back. The eyes are brown.

Take note of the main distinguishing features such as colour, size and leg length relative to the body size. Colours of body parts can be helpful. Be aware what may appear brown to one person is described in Roberts using some other word ... for example brown, black. See colours used in Roberts.

Head is black

Eyes are brown

Bill is black

Legs are black

Throat is grey

Back is brown

Feeding Habits ...

This bird has a specially adapted bill which helps it hunt for fish, crabs, shrimp and other aquatic animals in the water.

Breeding, Habitat and Nesting Habits ...

You can see the Long-tailed Jaeger bird on coastal regions and on the sea shore where the bird will be foraging with other birds

The Long-tailed Jaeger is a very rare bird that can only be seen out at sea following fish vessels. It can be seen in the Atlantic Ocean and Indian Ocean.

Seen in Flocks, Singles or Pairs Normally ...

The Long-tailed Jaeger is mainly seen singly or in pairs in the wild.