Long-tailed Jaeger (Stercorarius longicaudus), Roosevelt Lake, Gila County

An immature Long-tailed Jaeger was found by Jake Mohlmann on 08 September 2021; Chris McCreedy photographed this pair on 09 September 2021.

With less than 20 records, the Long-tailed is the second most frequent of the three jaegers in Arizona, just behind Parasitic Jaeger. Adults are seen less frequently in the state than immatures.

The adult has characteristicly long central tail feathers, lacks a breast band, has a pale gray belly, has a distinct neat cap, short stout bill and has white on the outer two primary shafts.

The immmature has long central tail feather projection, strongly barred upper and under tail coverts, all of the underwing is strongly barred and contrasts with the flanks, and whitish (not cinnamon) fringes to the upperparts. Note also the structure, with a relatively larger head than Parasitic Jaeger, and a short bill with the nail making up about half the length. Another supporting feature is the contrastingly dark secondaries on the upperwing.

09 September 2021, photo by Chris McCreedy

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