The Pomarine Jaeger, a powerful pirate of the seas with determined flight, recognizable by its bulky size and, in summer, its incredible spoon-shaped tail feathers.
The Pirate of the Seas from the Far North
The Pomarine Jaeger (Stercorarius pomarinus) is a seabird that commands respect. Built like an athlete, with a broad chest and powerful flight, it looks more like a hunter than a typical seabird. Spending most of the year far from shore, it leads a pelagic life, braving the elements. But it is its audacity that best defines it.
Nicknamed the "pirate of the seas," it doesn't hesitate to chase and harass other birds, even larger ones, to steal their meals in spectacular aerial duels. This bird, which nests in the distant Arctic tundra, is a long-distance migrant that gives us a glimpse into the wild and unforgiving life of the open ocean.
Our Ornithologist's Tip
By the Les-Oiseaux.com team, published on August 03, 2025.
My personal advice: To identify the Pomarine Jaeger, forget subtlety and look for power. It is a more massive and "stocky" bird than other jaegers. Its flight is direct and powerful, with slower, deeper wingbeats, almost like a small gull, not the acrobatic agility of the Parasitic Jaeger.
The ultimate feature, if you are lucky enough to see one in spring or early summer, is its spoon-shaped central tail feathers. These elongated, broad, and distinctly twisted tail feathers are unique and visible from a distance. Even without them, its bulky structure, broad chest, and clean white flashes at the base of its wings are excellent clues.
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Identifying the Pomarine Jaeger: A Polymorphic Bird
Identifying the Pomarine Jaeger is an interesting challenge due to the existence of several plumage morphs and age-related variations.
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Two Color Morphs and a Spectacular Breeding Plumage
The Pomarine Jaeger mainly comes in two versions:
The Light Morph: This is the most common. The bird has a dark brown back, contrasting with a white belly. A broad, sometimes incomplete, brown breast band crosses the chest. It has a clean black cap and pale yellow cheeks.
The Dark Morph: Less frequent, this morph has an almost entirely brownish-black plumage.
Regardless of the plumage, a white crescent, formed by the base of the primary feathers, is visible on the wings in flight. The adult in breeding plumage is distinguished by its famous elongated, spatulate, and twisted central tail feathers, which can extend more than 4 inches (10 cm). The bill is robust and hooked, grayish with a dark tip.
Juveniles and Winter Plumage
In winter, adults lose their long tail feathers. Juveniles are more complex to identify, with highly variable plumage, generally brown and heavily barred on the body, rump, and underwing coverts. However, their silhouette remains more massive than that of other young jaegers.
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Call: Generally Silent at Sea
Away from its breeding grounds, the Pomarine Jaeger is a rather quiet bird. It is rare to hear it during its migratory passages off our coasts. It becomes vocal on the Arctic tundra, especially when defending its territory or during courtship displays. It then emits a variety of harsh, nasal calls, sometimes described as a "g-waer-g-waer-g-waer" or discordant "kek" sounds when alarmed. At sea, when following boats, a high-pitched "which-yew" call may sometimes be heard.
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Behavior: Pirate of the Seas and Lemming Hunter
The Pomarine Jaeger leads a fascinating double life. At sea, during migration and winter, it is a formidable pirate. It practices kleptoparasitism with remarkable tenacity: it pursues terns, gulls, and even gannets to force them to drop their fish, which it then intercepts mid-air. It is more direct and aggressive than the Parasitic Jaeger, not hesitating to attack its victims.
On its breeding grounds in the Arctic, its diet changes completely. It becomes a specialized terrestrial predator, feeding almost exclusively on lemmings and other small rodents. The success of its nesting is, in fact, closely tied to the cyclical abundance of these rodents.
Jaeger vs. Gull: A False Resemblance
With its size and build, a Pomarine Jaeger can be mistaken for a gull. However, their styles are radically different.
Feature
Pomarine Jaeger
Typical Gull (e.g., Herring Gull)
Silhouette & Flight
Bulky, broad-chested. Powerful, direct flight with steady, deep wingbeats.
More slender. Flight is more buoyant; often soars and glides.
Color (in flight)
Mostly dark brown upperparts with a distinct white flash on the wings.
Light gray back contrasting with black wingtips.
Behavior
Active hunter, harasses other birds to steal their food (kleptoparasitism).
Opportunistic, fishes, feeds on the ground, follows fishing boats.
Tail (breeding adult)
Two unique, long, spoon-shaped central feathers.
Square tail, without any prominent feathers.
Habitat and Distribution
The Pomarine Jaeger is a true bird of extremes. It nests on the ground of the Arctic tundra, in the coastal regions of the high Arctic in Eurasia and North America, often near marshy areas. It is here that it depends on lemming populations to breed.
Outside of this short breeding period, it is strictly pelagic. It is a long-distance migrant that leaves the Arctic to spend the winter on the open sea in tropical and subtropical oceans, particularly in the Atlantic. It follows mainly coastal migration corridors, which allows it to be observed from the shoreline, but spends the rest of its time far from land.
Distribution Map
Breeding Range
Non-Breeding Range (Wintering)
Passage (Migration)
Conservation Status
On a global scale, the Pomarine Jaeger is listed as "Least Concern" (LC) by the IUCN due to its very large range. However, like many Arctic species, it is vulnerable to the effects of climate change. Disruptions to the population cycles of lemmings, its main food source on the nesting sites, could have a negative long-term impact on its breeding success. Marine pollution, such as oil spills, also poses a threat during its migrations and in its wintering areas.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) about the Pomarine Jaeger
Why is the Pomarine Jaeger called the 'pirate of the seas'?
The Pomarine Jaeger is nicknamed the 'pirate of the seas' due to its kleptoparasitic behavior. It aggressively chases other seabirds, like gulls or terns, harassing them in flight until they regurgitate their catch, which the jaeger then snatches before it hits the water.
What are the 'spoons' on a Pomarine Jaeger's tail?
The 'spoons' are the two elongated, broad, and twisted central tail feathers (rectrices) that adults have in breeding plumage. These unique, spoon-like ornaments are a key identification feature during the breeding season. They are typically lost or broken by winter.
Is the Pomarine Jaeger a type of gull?
No, although it resembles them and lives in the same environments, the Pomarine Jaeger is not a gull. It belongs to the family Stercorariidae (jaegers and skuas), which are close relatives of gulls (family Laridae), but they are distinguished by their more pronounced predatory and kleptoparasitic behavior.
Where can you see a Pomarine Jaeger?
The Pomarine Jaeger is a pelagic bird, meaning it spends most of its life on the open ocean. The best chances to see one are during its migration, from rocky headlands or during seawatching trips, mainly in the fall. It nests in the Arctic tundra, far from most populated areas.
What does the Pomarine Jaeger eat?
Its diet is twofold. At sea, it primarily feeds on fish, often stolen from other birds. On its breeding grounds in the Arctic tundra, its diet shifts dramatically to consist mainly of lemmings and other small rodents, whose populations dictate its breeding success.
