ML72520381

Age

Not specified

Sex

Not specified

Observation details

This jaeger was first observed in strong flight chasing a Ring-billed Gull in an attempt to make it regurgitate food. After the gull landed the jaeger ceased its pursuit and departed. This bird revealed itself as a juvenile jaeger due to its dark, clean-look showing no molt (1st molt in Nov.), pale tarsi, black feet, bill with pale base and black tip, and white wing flashes. This particular species was deducted as a Pomarine Jaeger from Cynthia Madsen’s photos. Distinctive field marks are listed below. 1. Body color dark brown vs. Parasitic’s warm brown or Long-tailed’s grayness (Photo #1) 2. Fairly dark head, lacking the pale nape, streaked face or dark cap of the Parasitic (Photo #1) 3. 6+ white primary shafts showing in the upper wing vs. 4-5 of Parasitic (Photo #1) 4. Strong flight style, as a Peregrine Falcon (Photo #2) 5. Larger than a Ring-billed Gull (Photo #2) 6. Underwing lightly barred as in Long-tailed but often lacking in Parasitic (Photo #3) 7. Semblance of a “Double Flash” (Photo #4) 8. Blunt, central rectrices barely extend past the other tail feathers vs. pointed centrals on Parasitic, or extended centrals on Long-tailed (Photo #1) 9. Arced, uppertail coverts reveal a barred effect vs. wavy scalloping of Parasitic (Photo #5)

Technical information

Model

DC-FZ80

ISO

80

Focal length

36.8 mm

Flash

Flash did not fire, auto

f-stop

f/5.5

Shutter speed

1/500 sec

Dimensions

1667 pixels x 1851 pixels

Original file size

722.74 KB