: Non-breeding. mid Jun-early Aug when a few subadults remain in the western Gulf of Maine.
: mid May-mid Jun and offshore mid Jul-mid Oct with likely to early Dec but few observers present. Jun-mid Oct in Frenchman and Blue Hill Bays. Sep-mid Oct with to early Dec from Schoodic Point; otherwise from mainland observation points. on inland lakes and ponds.
Miscellany: The Bar Harbor whale watch tours that go offshore, offer the best chance of encountering the species.
Distant jaegers, especially sub-adults, are notoriously difficult to identify. Some perhaps many local records should probably be listed as "jaeger species" even though Parasitic is by far the most likely species.
Parasitic Jaegers are formidable predators on their tundra breeding grounds, feeding on small birds and bird eggs. On the southbound migrations they rob terns (mostly) and small gulls of their food in often spectacular chases. They come in two color morph, light below/dark above and all dark, as well as a variety of intermediates.
Last Updated: December 9th, 2023