Parasitic Jaeger (Stercorarius parasiticus), Lake Havasu City, Rotary Park, Mohave County

This Parasitic Jaeger was discovered and photographed by Bill Sutton on 14 September 2010.  This bird appears to have damaged its upper mandible. 

Fewer than 10 accepted records for the state.  Very few documented records. 

Immature jaegers can be tough to ID.  Initially identified in the field as a possible Pomaraine Jaeger, careful study of the photographs reveals several characters that ID this is as a juvenile Parasitic:  the streaked nape, cinnamon buff tips to the back feathers, pale tips to the primaries and overall slender appearance. In addition, while Parasitic Jaegers are migrating now, Pomarines usually migrate later. So the date also points to Parasitic Jaeger.

14 September 2010, photo by Bill Sutton

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