South Polar Skua vs Long-tailed Jaeger
Catharacta maccormicki compared with Stercorarius longicaudus
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | South Polar Skua | Long-tailed Jaeger |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Catharacta maccormicki | Stercorarius longicaudus |
| Order | Charadriiformes | Charadriiformes |
| Family | Stercorariidae | Stercorariidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 77.4 cm (30.5 in) | 60.3 cm (23.7 in) |
| Weight | 1315.0 g (46.39 oz) | 315.75 g (11.14 oz) |
| Diet | -- | -- |
| Clutch Size | 1-2 | 1-2 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Conservation Status
Least Concern
South Polar Skua
Least Concern
Long-tailed Jaeger
About These Birds
South Polar Skua
South Polar Skua, 50–55 cm, breeds on the Antarctic continent — one of the world's most southerly breeding birds, recorded at the South Pole. Strong migratory; winters in the North Pacific and North Atlantic, crossing the equator. Polymorphic; feeds on penguins, fish, and krill. Circumglobal migration.
Long-tailed Jaeger
Long-tailed Jaeger, 48–53 cm body plus up to 25 cm tail streamers, is the most elegant jaeger, breeding on Arctic and sub-Arctic tundra worldwide. Feeds primarily on lemmings on the breeding grounds; transitions to pelagic planktivore and piscivore on the ocean. Migrates to subantarctic waters — one of the longest migrations.