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Parasitic jaeger Facts

Parasitic jaeger Facts
Parasitic jaeger, also known as Arctic skua, is type of marine bird that belongs to the skua family. It can be found all over the world. Parasitic jaeger usually inhabits islands, coasts, estuaries and open sea, but it can be also found in boreal forests, grassland and tundra. It tolerates extremely cold, wet and dry areas. Parasitic jaegers are numerous and widespread in the wild (they are not on the list of endangered species).
Interesting Parasitic jaeger Facts:
Parasitic jaeger can reach 16 to 19 inches in length and 0.66 to 1.43 pounds of weight. Females are slightly larger than males.
Parasitic jaegers can be "light" or "dark" colored. "Pale" parasitic jaegers have grayish-brown body, whitish belly, black cap on top of the head and yellowish-white sides of the neck and head. "Dark" parasitic jaegers are covered with brown plumage.
Parasitic jaeger has hooked bill, medium-sized body and black-colored webbed feet. It has long, diamond-shaped tail with long, pointed tail feathers (positioned centrally) which facilitate steering in the air.
Parasitic jaeger is proficient flyer, able to perform various acrobatics in the air.
Parasitic jaeger steals food from gulls, terns and auks, hence the name "parasitic" jaeger. It harasses seabirds and forces them to release food from their bills. Parasitic jaeger collects food in the midair or from the surface of the water. Stealing of food is scientifically known as kleptoparasitism.
Parasitic jaeger also collects berries and eats insects, rodents and small birds.
Natural enemies of parasitic jaegers are Arctic foxes and snowy owls.
Parasitic jaeger migrates toward the southern hemisphere (to the wintering grounds) at the end of the summer.
Mating season of parasitic jaegers takes place from April to June.
Males perform various acrobatics in the air to attract females. Formed couples can last one or more seasons. Parasitic jaegers produce cat-like calls during the breeding season.
Parasitic jaegers can nest solitary (in tundra) or in loose colonies (on the islands). Both males and females aggressively defend their nest. They produce shrieking calls and use bills and feet to repel intruders from the nesting area.
Female lays 2 to 4 olive-brown eggs into the shallow depression in the ground. Both parents participate in the incubation of eggs, which lasts 26 to 27 days.
Chicks can leave the nest 24 to 48 hours after hatching. Both parents collect food for their chicks until they become able to fend for themselves. Young parasitic jaegers learn to fly at the age of 26 to 30 days. They fly toward the wintering grounds at the beginning of the autumn and often stay there until the age of 2 years.
Parasitic jaegers reach sexual maturity at the age of 3 to 4 years.
Parasitic jaeger can survive up to 32 years in the wild.


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