Basic-plumaged adult Long-tailed Jaegers in the USA

All:

Last Friday, Oct 16, I saw what appeared to be a basic plumaged adult Long-tailed Jaeger about 30 miles off S. California. The bird was an obviously small jaeger, showing the characteristic all dark underwing and contrasting gray coverts/dark flight feathers on the upperwing of an adult Long-tailed Jaeger, with no wing flash. However it also showed a pale underbody with some dark barring on the rear flanks and vent, rather than a dusky vent, and had a partial dusky breast band. These would suggest a basic adult. The dark underwing would seem to rule out an immature bird. How frequently, if ever, is this plumage seen in the USA or N. Hemisphere? I can’t recall seeing adults this late before.

Nick Lethaby

nlethaby@...

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