North American Bird Search Box
This search box can be used to find bird species using bird's english, french or latin name, or to identify bird by its 4 letter Alpha Code
Field Guide for all the Birds of North America
Tail Profile of the Jaegers
Labbe
Stercorariidae
Information, images and range maps on over 1,000 birds of North America, including sub-species, vagrants, introduced birds and possibilities
Jaegers can be easily be identified from each other in breeding plumage by examining the tails feathers of the seabirds. Although, the species can vary in plumage colours, ranging from light morph, intermediate morph and dark morph, the shape or profile of the tail feathers are the same for each species, but different from the other two types of jaegers. This is not as easy when the seabirds are seen in non-breeding plumage, or the jaeger is a juvenile. In these cases the tail feathers might be much shorter, and less prominent, or not visible at all.
Reference to Other Bird Site:
ABA - American Birding Association This site represents an organization that maintains official records of all birds species that have been proven to have been seen inside the perimeters of the North American Continent and the surrounding bodies of water. Regular revised versions are posted to keep the bird list current at all times. This is the list used by all serious birders over their lifetime. You may be aware of the movie called the "Big Year". It was with this list that all the competing birders used in an attempt to set a new record as to how many bird species that could be seen by an individual birder in one calendar year.