Verification of Unusual
Sight Record
For Utah
Rec. # 2020-02
| Common name: |
Parasitic Jaeger |
| Scientific name: | Stercorarius parasiticus |
| Date: | 09-21-2014 |
| Time: | 9:45amish |
| Length of time observed: | 15 minutes |
| Number: | 1 |
| Age: | Juvenile |
| Sex: | ? |
| Location: | Antelope Island Causeway, 2nd bridge |
| County: | Davis |
| Latilong: | |
| Elevation: | 4200ft |
| Distance to bird: | 50-200m |
| Optical equipment: | 10x50 Nikon Binos, Canon SX50 Digital Camera |
| Weather: | Raining and overcast |
| Light Conditions: | Overcast made flat light, if it had been sunny the bird likly would have been backlit |
| Description: Size of bird: | 16in |
| (Description:) Basic Shape: | Gull like |
| (Description:) Overall Pattern: | Overall uniformly rusty brown |
| (Description:) Bill Type: | |
|
(Description:)
Field Marks and Identifying Characteristics: |
"Medium sized Jaeger flew over the AIC very close, near the 2nd bridge. Landed
out in the lake to the south a couple hundred yards out. We watched it in the
scopes for over 10 minutes. Medium sized gull like bird, not small enough to be
a Long-tailed, bill not massive enough to be a Pomarine. Observed in a long
chase with a gull.White crescent in primary base (on upper side) noted, as was
whitish base to tail. Apparent immature intermediate morph" From notes taken at
time of sighting. After consulting references and looking at photos online, I
think the bill size and shape shown in the photo best fit a Parasitic,
specifically it has a small nail on a long bill. (see photos) |
| Song or call & method of delivery: | None heard |
| Behavior: | Chasing gulls near the bridge |
| Habitat: | Open water of Great Salt Lake, mostly observed over brackish water of Farmington Bay |
| Similar
species and
how were they eliminated: |
Long-tailed Jaeger-Smaller with a longer tail and more delicate build and
showing white in only P8 and P9 primaries at base on upperside, shorter bill
with larger nail in proportion. More buoyant and graceful flight style, not as
fast aggressive and falcon like as this bird was. Dark and intermediate morphs
rare Pomarine Jaeger-Larger and more massive with a broader chest and short tail, nail on bill more massive and prominent than this birds |
| Previous
experience with this & similar species: |
This was my 1st Jaeger, but have seen 4 since, 3 Parasitic and 1 Long-tailed |
| References consulted: | Sibley, eBird. |
| Description from: |
Notes taken at the time of the sighting From photo(s) taken at the time of the sighting |
| Observer: | Bryant Olsen |
| Observer's address: | 688 East 700 South #105 |
| Observer's e-mail address: | ** |
| Other observers who independently identified this bird: |
Kendal Watkins, Norm and Gail Jensen and BIlly Fenimore were with me |
| Date prepared: | 1-3-2020 |
| Additional material: | Photos |
| Additional comments: | eBird checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S19895879. Photo taken by Norm Jensen, used with permission. |