50 
tinged with golden; the cap is black (Figure 89) and the rest of body dark brown. 
Dark barring may occur on flanks, breast, and underparts. Hardly distinguishable by 
colour from the two next Jaegers. 
Distinctions. The largest of the three Jaegers. (Disregarding the long projecting 
tail feathers, 17-75 in length). A Jaeger with a wing over 13| inches probably belongs to 
this species. The elongated tail feathers of the 
adult are wide, instead of pointed, and twisted 
at the tip so that the ends stand in a vertical 
plane instead of lying horizontally (Figure 91). 
Field Marks. For recognition as a Jaeger 
see Field Marks under Family, page 48. The 
trailing, broad, twisted tail feathers are prob- 
ably the best specific field marks. 
Nesting. On the ground, on the moors 
and tundras of the north. 
Figure 91 
Tail of Pomarine Jaeger; scale about |. 
Distribution. Breeds on the islands and mainland of the Arctic, across the continent. 
Recorded from Great Slave and Athabaska lakes, but not elsewhere in the interior, except 
one record from Saskatchewan. A single migrant on the coast of British Columbia. 
37. Parasitic Jaeger, arctic or Richardson's skua. Stercorarius parasiticus. L, 17 
(Tail 8-25 maximum). (Projection of centre tail feathers 3-25). In coloration hardly 
distinguishable from the other two Jaegers ( See preceding 
species for general description). Occurs in both phases 
there described and in various intermediate stages 
Distinctions. Decidedly smaller than the Pomarine, 
slightly larger than Long-tailed Jaegers. Length, disregard- 
ing elongated tail feathers, 13-75 instead of the 17 -75 of the 
former or 13 of the latter. A Jaeger with a wing under 
13 inches is probably either this or the next species. 
The elongated tail feathers of the adult are pointed and 
narrow instead of wide and twisted as in the Pomarine 
and but 3-25 inches projection beyond the rest, instead 
of 8 inches as in the Long-tailed (compare Figure 92 with 
91 and 93). Immatures and birds with the centre tail 
feathers in moult are difficult to separate from the Long-tailed. The best distinction 
seems to be in the colour of the shafts of the primary feathers. In this species the shafts 
of the three first primaries (counting from outside) are white, the remainder darkening 
progressively as they succeed each other on the wing. In the Long-tailed there is an 
abrupt darkening of colour of the shafts with the third primary. This distinction is not 
infallible and occasional juvenile specimens are very difficult of determination. 
Field Marks. For recognition marks as a Jaeger See Family, Field Marks, page 48. 
The small projection of middle tail feathers and their not being broad and twisted probably 
make the best specific field marks. 
Nesting. On the ground, on the moors and tundras of the north. 
Distribution. Breeds in the Arctic across the continent. More common in migration 
on the sea-board than in the interior, but may occur anywhere in Canada. This is the 
Jaeger that is probably most likely to be met with in the Prairie Provinces and the com- 
monest in migration on the British Columbia coast. 
Figure 92 
Tail of Parasitic Jaeger; 
scale, about f . 
Juveniles have often been recorded as the Long-tailed and consider- 
able caution should be used in identifying them. 
38. Long- tailed Jaeger, marline-spike, buffon's skua. Stercorarius longicaudus. 
L, 21 (Tail 13-25. Maximum projection of centre feathers 8). In coloration hardly dis- 
tinguishable from the two preceding Jaegers. 
(See Pomarine Jaeger for general description.) 
Only the light phase certainly known to occur. 
Distinctions. Decidedly smaller than the 
Pomarine, slightly smaller than the Parasitic. 
Length, disregarding greatly elongated tail 
feathers, 13 instead of 17-75 and 13- 75 of the 
two former. A Jaeger with wing under 12 inches 
Figure 93 is probably this species. The very long tail 
Tail of Long-tailed Jaeger; scale, about J. feathers of the adult are narrow and attenuated 
instead of being broad and twisted as in the 
Pomarine and project 8 inches beyond the rest of the tail instead of 3-25 as in the Parasitic 
(Compare Figure 93 with 91 and 92). Immatures and birds with the centre tail feathers in 
