Pomarine Jaeger Similar Species Comparison
Main SpeciesPomarine Jaeger
Adult dark morph
Large, powerful seabird with sharply pointed wings. Of all the jaeger species, Pomarine has the largest white flashes in the wings.
© Ian Davies / Macaulay LibraryAlaska, June 06, 2014Juvenile light morph
Immature jaegers can be very difficult to identify. Shape and proportions are important; note Pomarine's heavy body, broad wings, and heavy bill. Pomarine also has broad white flashes in the wings.
© Luke SeitzMassachusetts, August 22, 2015Juvenile dark morph
Heavy-bodied, barrel-chested seabird. Pomarine Jaegers often show a "double flash" in the wings with a white bar near the wrist in addition to the white flash in the primaries.
© Paul Poronto / Macaulay LibraryMichigan, November 14, 2017Adult light morph
Large, barrel-chested seabird with pointed wings and powerful flight style. Breeding adults have twisted, spoon-shaped central tail feathers.
© Brian SullivanCalifornia, September 07, 2012Adult light morph
Powerful, heavy-bodied seabird with broad white flashes in the wings. Adults have black surrounding the bill, without the pale arc seen on adult Parasitic.
© Luke SeitzMassachusetts, August 23, 2015Adult light morph
Heavy-bodied, often scruffy-looking large seabird. Adults have sharply two-toned bill and usually (but not always) a dark breast band.
© Brian SullivanCalifornia, November 10, 2014Similar SpeciesParasitic Jaeger
Adult light morph
Parasitic Jaegers can be difficult to tell from Pomarine Jaegers. Breeding adults have straight central tail feathers, unlike Pomarine's twisted, spoon-shaped tail feathers. Parasitic has a pale spot or arc over the bill, whereas Pomarine's face and cap is entirely dark.
© Chris WoodJune 15, 2004Similar SpeciesParasitic Jaeger
Adult dark morph
Parasitic Jaegers are slightly less bulky and barrel-chested than Pomarine Jaegers, and they show less white in the wing than Pomarine. Separating the two species can be tricky.
© Brian SullivanJanuary 08, 2004Similar SpeciesParasitic Jaeger
Immature light morph
Immature jaegers can be very difficult to identify. Parasitic Jaegers are somewhat smaller and less barrel-chested than Pomarine Jaegers. Parasitic's bill is smaller and more slender.
© Brian SullivanCalifornia, September 11, 2007Similar SpeciesLong-tailed Jaeger
Adult
Long-tailed Jaegers are smaller and more slender than Pomarine Jaegers. Breeding adult Long-tailed has extremely long central tail feathers.
© Ian Davies / Macaulay LibraryAlaska, June 27, 2012Similar SpeciesLong-tailed Jaeger
Subadult
Subadult Long-tailed Jaegers are smaller than Pomarine Jaegers, with more slender bodies, more buoyant flight, and without the large white flashes in the underwing that Pomarine Jaegers show.
© Luke SeitzMassachusetts, August 22, 2015Similar SpeciesLong-tailed Jaeger
Juvenile dark morph
Juvenile jaegers can be very difficult to tell apart. Long-tailed Jaegers are smaller and more slender than Pomarine Jaegers, with a daintier and more ternlike flight style.
© Luke SeitzMassachusetts, September 28, 2014Similar SpeciesNorthern Fulmar
Dark morph
Northern Fulmars fly with stiffer, straighter, and narrower wings than jaegers. They tend to take a few quick wingbeats followed by a glide, unlike the acrobatic, flapping flight of jaegers.
© Matt Brady / Macaulay LibraryCalifornia, October 19, 2010Similar SpeciesIceland Gull
First winter (Iceland)
Gulls such as Iceland Gulls are not as dark brown as jaegers. Gulls have broader, less pointed wings, and usually don't fly as forcefully as Pomarine Jaegers.
© Alvan Buckley / Macaulay LibraryNewfoundland and Labrador, February 11, 2017Rotate Your Device to Better Compare
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Species in This Family
Skuas and Jaegers(Order: Charadriiformes, Family: Stercorariidae)
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