[178] BIRDSOFOREGON 



DISTRIBUTION. General: Breeds on shores of Arctic Ocean and migrates south along 

 coast to winter in southern hemisphere. In Oregon: Along coast in spring and fall 

 migrations, known from three specimens only. 



THE POMARINE JAEGER, the largest of the jaegers, may undoubtedly be 

 looked for along the Oregon coast in both spring and fall migrations. It 

 is most likely to occur in April, May, August, and September, although 

 stragglers may possibly be found at any time. It seems to keep well off- 

 shore, as do so many of the species that travel this coast. In our numerous 

 bird-collecting trips offshore we have met with it only twice and have 

 taken only three specimens an immature female (Gabrielson Coll. No. 

 182.2.), September 2.3, 1932., just south of the end of the south jetty at 

 the mouth of the Columbia, and an adult female (Gabrielson Coll. No. 

 2.567) and an immature bird (Jewett Coll.), both September 8, 1933, off 

 Depoe Bay. We saw perhaps a dozen birds on those days, some of them 

 adults with the characteristic twisted tail feathers and odd plumage very 

 well marked. Five of them flew across our stem just out of gunshot. 

 Their flight, in contrast with that of the gulls, consisted of rather steady, 

 deliberate, and powerful wing beats. As the birds were not feeding and 

 were not molesting the swarming gulls and shearwaters, as is their 

 custom, we were not fortunate enough to see the wonderful aerial acro- 

 batics in which they indulge at such times. 



The jaegers are the hawks of the sea. On their breeding grounds they 

 feed on the eggs and young of other birds and harry the gulls and terns 

 until they drop any food they may have obtained and then dive after the 

 morsel themselves, usually seizing it before it strikes the water. 



Parasitic Jaeger: 



Stercorarius farasiticus (Linnaeus) 



DESCRIPTION. "Adults. Light phase: upper parts slaty, becoming blackish on crown, 

 wings, and tail; throat and under parts white; sides of head and neck white or 

 grayish, tinged with yellow. Dark phase: entire plumage slaty or sooty, darkest on 

 crown, wings, and tail. Young: head and neck streaked, and under parts spotted 

 and barred with buff and dusky." (Bailey) Downy young: "Sooty brown above, paler 

 below; but the downy young of dark parents are deepest in hue." (Saunders, 1896.) 

 Si%e: "Length 15.50-2.1.00, wing 12.. 67, tail 7-9, bill 1.2.7." (Bailey) Nest: An un- 

 lined depression in the ground. Eggs: 2., dull olive, varying to green, gray, or 

 brown ground color, with spots, blotches, and lines of a sepia, drab, dark chocolate, 

 or umber vinaceous. 



DISTRIBUTION. General: Breeds in Arctic and Subarctic regions of both hemispheres. 

 Winters from southern coast of United States southward, also along southern shores 

 in Old World. Passes in migration along United States coasts in spring and fall. 

 In Oregon: Spring and fall migrant along coast. One definite record only. 



THE PARASITIC JAEGER undoubtedly is a regular migrant along the Oregon 

 coast, both spring and fall, although a skin (Jewett Coll. No. 3470) 

 taken by Dr. Flynn near Scappoose, just below Portland on the Columbia 



