Long-tailed Jaeger (Stercorarius longicaudus). In the Arctic this species is the most widely distributed and abundant jaeger. It Breeds the farthest north of any jaeger, and as far north as any bird species. Its diet in the breeing season consists primarily of lemmings and voles, so this bird is vulnerable to cycles in the densities of these rodents. Because it depends on rodents only for breeding, it can survive crashes in rodent numbers without the high mortality experienced by other...
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Long-tailed Jaeger (Stercorarius longicaudus). In the Arctic this species is the most widely distributed and abundant jaeger. It Breeds the farthest north of any jaeger, and as far north as any bird species. Its diet in the breeing season consists primarily of lemmings and voles, so this bird is vulnerable to cycles in the densities of these rodents. Because it depends on rodents only for breeding, it can survive crashes in rodent numbers without the high mortality experienced by other arctic predators. In years with low densities of lemmings, the Long-tailed Jaeger simply does not breed and returns to sea. Yukon Delta National Wildlife Refuge, Alaska. May.
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