Stercorariidae - skuas, jaegers

There are 8 species in this family of seabirds. They are medium to large predatory gull-like birds. Jaeger is the name given the skuas found in North America.

Skuas and jaegers are gray or brown with white markings on their wings. They have long bills with a hooked tip and large webbed feet with claws. Skuas and jaegers are kleptoparasitic birds. That means they get their food by stealing it from other animals. A large part of their diet, up to 95%, is made up food they steal from other seabirds like gulls and terns. Skuas and jaegers harass and chase other birds in the air and force them to drop whatever it is they are carrying. Some species also chase birds on the ground to steal their food. Once the other bird has dropped its catch, the skua or jaeger will swoop down and catch the food before it hits the water or the ground. When they are on their breeding grounds they also prey on eggs, chicks, and lemmings.

World Status Key
Least Concern Near Threatened Vulnerable Endangered Critically Endangered Extinct in the Wild Extinct
Status and range is taken from ICUN Redlist. If no status is listed, there is not enough data to establish status.

US Status Key
Threatened in US Threatened in NH Endangered in US Endangered in NH Breeds in NH Introduced
Status taken from US Fish and Wildlife and NH Fish and Game

New Hampshire Species		North/Central American Species
Parasitic Jaeger -  Stercorarius parasiticus Pomarine Jaeger -  Stercorarius pomarinus		Great Skua - Stercorarius skua Long-tailed Jaeger -  Stercorarius longicaudus South Polar Skua -  Stercorarius maccormicki

Species Around the World
Africa Antarctica Asia Australia Europe North/Central America South America NH Species
Brown Skua -  Stercorarius lonnbergi Chilean Skua -  Stercorarius chilensis Great Skua - Stercorarius skua Long-tailed Jaeger-Stercorarius longicaudu		Parasitic Jaeger -Stercorarius parasiticus Pomarine Jaeger -Stercorarius pomarinus South Polar Skua-Stercorarius maccormicki Southern Skua - Stercorarius antarcticus

Additional Information

Key: Profile Photos Video Audio