Pomarine Jaeger (GTM Research Reserve Bird Guide)

Pomarine Jaeger

Stercorarius pomarinus

Summary ⁶

The Pomarine Skua (Stercorarius pomarinus) known as Pomarine Jaeger in the Americas, is a seabird in the skua family Stercorariidae. It is a migrant, wintering at sea in the tropical oceans.

General description ⁷

Occurs in two colour morphs or phases, and various intermediate ones. All plumages: Bill hooked, feet webbed. Adults in dark morph: Generally dark brown, slightly lighter below and on cheeks; black cap. Adults in light morph: Underparts, breast, neck and face white: cheeks, and throat in some cases, tinged with yellow; cap black; rest of upperparts dark brown; dark barring may occur on flanks, breast and underparts; bases of the primary feathers are white, providing a fairly conspicuous white ""wing-flash""; tips of the central tail feathers are spatulate and twisted, and project several centimeters beyond the outer ones. Juveniles: grayish brown, heavily barred on upperparts and underparts with blackish brown; central tail feathers are little elongated.