Pomarine jaeger

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Pomarine jaeger
Stercorarius pomarinusPCCA20070623-3985B.jpg
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Charadriiformes
Family: Stercorariidae
Genus: Stercorarius
Species:
S. pomarinus
Binomial name
Stercorarius pomarinus
(Temminck, 1815)
StercorariusPomarinusIUCNver2018 2.png
Range of S. pomarinus
  Breeding
  Non-breeding
  Passage
  Vagrant (seasonality uncertain)
Synonyms
  • Catharacta pomarinus
  • Coprotheres pomarinus

The pomarine jaeger (Stercorarius pomarinus), pomarine skua, or pomatorhine skua, [2] is a seabird in the skua family Stercorariidae. It is a migrant, wintering at sea in the tropical oceans.

Contents

Taxonomy

Its relationships are not fully resolved; its mitochondrial DNA is most similar to the great skua, [3] but from morphology and behavior, it is closer to the lesser skuas (such as the parasitic jaeger). The most likely explanation is extensive hybridization between the great and one species of lesser skuas, which resulted in a hybrid population that eventually evolved into a distinct species, the pomarine jaeger; or alternatively between the pomarine and a species of Southern Hemisphere skua, with the great skua being the hybrid offspring, perhaps appearing as recently as the 15th century. [3] [4] Judging from characteristics of the skeleton and behavior, the former seems more likely, as the pomarine jaeger shares several similarities with the "Catharacta" skuas, while the great skua does not seem much different from its Southern Hemisphere relatives.

The mtDNA difference between the pomarine jaeger and the great skua is one of the smallest between any two vertebrate species yet analyzed, being less than the variation found between different individuals of widespread species. The apparent capability for hybridization has led to the abolition of the separate genus Catharacta for the Southern Hemisphere and great skuas.

Etymology

The word "jaeger" is derived from the German word Jäger, meaning "hunter". [5] [6] The genus name Stercorarius is Latin and means "of dung"; the food disgorged by other birds when pursued by skuas was once thought to be excrement. The specific Pomatorhinus is from Ancient Greek poma, pomatos, "lid" and rhis, rhinos, "nostrils". [7] This refers to the cere, which the pomarine jaeger shares with the other skuas. Although it is sometimes erroneously referred to as the Pomeranian skua, the name of this species is unrelated to the Baltic Sea region of Pomerania. [2]

Description

This is a large skua at about 45cm length, excluding the central tail feathers of the summer adult, which can add another 10cm or so. Stercorarius pomarinusDUCA.jpg
This is a large skua at about 45cm length, excluding the central tail feathers of the summer adult, which can add another 10cm or so.

This species ranges from 46 to 67 cm (18 to 26 in) in length, 110 to 138 cm (43 to 54 in) in wingspan and 540–920 g (1.19–2.03 lb) in weight. [8] [9] [10] The upper limit of the length includes the elongated tail streamer of breeding adults, which is about 10 cm (3.9 in) in length. Identification of this jaeger is complicated by its similarities to parasitic jaeger and the existence of three morphs. Pomarine jaegers are larger than common gulls. They are much bulkier, broader-winged and less falcon-like than the parasitic jaeger, but show the same wide range of plumage variation. The flight is more measured than that of the smaller species. It has many harsh chattering calls and others which sounds like which-yew.

Light-morph adult pomarine jaegers have a brown back, mainly white underparts and dark primary wing feathers with a white "flash". The head and neck are yellowish-white with a black cap. Dark morph adults are dark brown, and intermediate morph birds are dark with somewhat paler underparts, head and neck. All morphs have the white wing flash, which appears as a diagnostic double flash on the underwing. In breeding adults of all morphs, the two central tail feathers are much longer than the others, spoon-shaped, and twisted from the horizontal. Juveniles are even more problematic to identify, and are difficult to separate from parasitic jaegers at a distance on plumage alone.

Behaviour

Breeding

Stercorarius pomarinus - MHNT Stercorarius pomarinus MHNT.ZOO.2010.11.139.5.jpg
Stercorarius pomarinus - MHNT

This species breeds in the far north of Eurasia and North America. It nests on Arctic tundra and islands, laying 2–3 olive-brown eggs in grass lined depressions. Like other skuas, it will fly at the head of a human or other intruder approaching its nest. Although it cannot inflict serious damage, the experience is frightening and painful.

Feeding

This bird feeds on fish, carrion, scraps, smaller birds up to the size of common gull and rodents, especially lemmings. It robs gulls, terns and even gannets of their catches. Like most other skua species, it continues this piratical behaviour throughout the year, showing great agility as it harasses its victims. Only the Great Black Backed Gull, White-Tailed Eagle and Golden Eagle are known to take adult, healthy pomarine skuas.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Skua</span> Family of birds

The skuas are a group of predatory seabirds with seven species forming the genus Stercorarius, the only genus in the family Stercorariidae. The three smaller skuas, the Arctic skua, the long-tailed skua, and the pomarine skua, are called jaegers in North American English.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Long-tailed jaeger</span> Species of bird

The long-tailed skua or long-tailed jaeger is a seabird in the skua family Stercorariidae.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Parasitic jaeger</span> Species of bird

The parasitic jaeger or Arctic skua (Europe), is a seabird in the skua family Stercorariidae. It is a migratory species that breeds in Northern Scandinavia, Scotland, Iceland, Greenland, Northern Canada, Alaska, and Siberia and winters across the southern hemisphere. Kleptoparasitism is a major source of food for this species during migration and winter, and is where the name is derived from.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Great skua</span> Species of bird

The great skua, sometimes known by the name bonxie in Britain, is a large seabird in the skua family Stercorariidae. It is roughly the size of a herring gull. It mainly eats fish caught at the sea surface or taken from other birds.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">South polar skua</span> Species of bird

The south polar skua is a large seabird in the skua family, Stercorariidae. An older name for the bird is MacCormick's skua, after explorer and naval surgeon Robert McCormick, who first collected the type specimen. This species and the other large skuas, such as the great skua, are sometimes placed in a separate genus Catharacta.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chilean skua</span> Species of bird

The Chilean skua, also called the cinnamon skua, is a large predatory seabird, which breeds in Argentina and Chile, but ranges as far north as Brazil and Peru when not breeding. A relatively distinctive skua, it has a dark cap that contrasts with its cinnamon throat and lower face. Hybrids with the Falkland skua are known from southern Argentina.

References

Off Gold Coast, SE Queensland, Australia
  1. ↑ BirdLife International (2018). "Stercorarius pomarinus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2018: e.T22694240A132534251. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2018-2.RLTS.T22694240A132534251.en . Retrieved 12 November 2021.
  2. 1 2 Cocker, Mark; Mabey, Richard (2005). Birds Britannica. Random House. p. 228. ISBN   0701169079 . Retrieved 25 May 2014.
  3. 1 2 Blechschmidt, Karin; Peter, Hans-Ulrich; de Korte, Jacobus; Wink, Michael; Seibold, Ingred; Helbig, Andreas (1993). "Untersuchungen zur molecularen Systematik der Raubmöwen (Stercorariidae)" [Investigations on the Molecular Systematics of Skuas (Stercorariidae)](PDF). Zoologisches Jahrbuch für Systematik (in German). 120: 379–387. Cited in DeBenedictis, Paul A. (1997). "Skuas". Birding. XXIX (1): 66–69.
  4. ↑ Furness, Robert W.; Hamer, Keith (2003). "Skuas and Jaegers" . In Perrins, Christopher (ed.). Firefly Encyclopedia of Birds. Firefly Books. pp.  270–273. ISBN   1-55297-777-3.
  5. ↑ "Jaeger" . Oxford English Dictionary (Online ed.). Oxford University Press.(Subscription or participating institution membership required.)
  6. ↑ "Skua" . Oxford English Dictionary (Online ed.). Oxford University Press.(Subscription or participating institution membership required.)
  7. ↑ Jobling, James A (2010). The Helm Dictionary of Scientific Bird Names. London: Christopher Helm. pp.  314, 365. ISBN   978-1-4081-2501-4.
  8. ↑ "Pomarine jaeger (Stercorarius pomarinus)". arkive.org. 2011. Archived from the original on 2011-10-21. Retrieved 2011-10-20.
  9. ↑ "Pomarine Jaeger Stercorarius pomarinus". enature.com. 2011. Archived from the original on 2006-06-15.
  10. ↑ Dunning, John B. Jr., ed. (1992). CRC Handbook of Avian Body Masses. CRC Press. ISBN   978-0-8493-4258-5.
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