Stercorarius longicaudus

Birders throughout Utah are traveling to Quail Creek Reservoir near Hurricane because of a recent sighting of a long-tailed jaeger. Rick Fridell spotted the bird, an interesting sighting because jaegers are pelagic species and a trip to the ocean is usually required to see them.

The long-tailed is the smallest of the jaegers. It also stays the farthest out to sea, which makes this bird all the more intriguing to Utah birders. It is a very rare vagrant that strays inland.

This particular long-tailed jaeger is a juvenile bird, the most likely to get off course and move inland when they do stray. Adult long-tailed jaegers have prominent 8- to 10-inch-long central tail plumes.

They feature a black cap on the head with a blue-gray back. The chest is white and the flight feathers are dark brown.

Long-tails breed in the Arctic. The fall migration routes from the Arctic to the central Pacific and south Atlantic wintering area are unknown. They feed on small rodents during summer while on the tundra. Other birds, eggs, carrion and insects are also included in the diet. The jaeger at Quail Creek was seen eating a bluegill fish.

Long-tailed jaegers are colonial nesters and monogamous. Both parents partner in incubation of the eggs and feeding of the semiprecocial young. They weigh 9 to 10 ounces and are 20 to 23 inches long, with a wingspan of 30 to 33 inches.

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* BILL FENIMORE is owner of the Layton Wild Bird Center. Call 801-525-8400 or visit www.wildbird.com/layton for information regarding free bird/nature walks.