Shiliuyun-Xinjiang Daily (Reporter Zhao Mei) news: On September 21, 2025, a rare bird species from the Arctic region, parasitic jaeger, appears in the wetlands around Kuitun City, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. Parasitic jaeger was first recorded in Xinjiang 18 years ago. Since then, there have only been two observation records. This discovery is another rare observation record in over a decade.

Photo taken on September 21, 2025 shows a parasitic jaeger, a rare bird species, appears in a wetland around Kuitun City, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. (Photo by Wang Rui)

At around 4 p.m. on that day, Yang Feifei, a birdwatcher from Xinjiang, and other birdwatchers were watching birds in the wetlands around Kuitun City when they noticed a dark brown gull rapidly skimming across the water surface. Wherever this bird passed, its chirping rose and fell in succession. Other waterfowl were either startled away or rose up in flocks to attack it. Yang Feifei then sent the pictures she had taken to relevant domestic experts for identification. Eventually, it was confirmed to be a rare parasitic jaeger in China.

Photo taken on September 21, 2025 shows a parasitic jaeger appears in a wetland around Kuitun City, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. (Photo by Wang Rui)

This parasitic jaeger is slightly larger than the black-headed gull. Its wings are pointed and long, and it appears agile and dexterous when flying. Yang Feifei described: "It tried several times to snatch food from the black-headed gull but failed each time. Later, it was driven by a flock of black-headed gulls and finally flew out of the water."

Photo taken on September 21, 2025 shows a parasitic jaeger swims on the water in a wetland around Kuitun City, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. (Photo by Wang Rui)

The parasitic jaeger belongs to the family Skua of the order Charadriiformes. It is approximately 41 to 55 centimeters in length, has a wingspan of 110 to 125 centimeters, and weighs about 350 to 600 grams. They breed in the coastal tundra around the Arctic Circle. During the non-breeding season, they mainly inhabit the waters of the Southern Hemisphere, especially the nearshore waters of South America, southern Africa, Australia and New Zealand.

Photo taken on September 21, 2025 shows a parasitic jaeger appears in a wetland around Kuitun City, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. (Photo by Wang Rui)

Ding Peng, a director of the Xinjiang Zoological Society, introduced that the parasitic jaeger is a rare bird species in China, with only a few documented records over the years, almost all in coastal areas. This bird species was first recorded in Xinjiang in September 2007. It was recorded again in 2010 and 2013 respectively. This discovery is the first in 12 years.

Photo taken on September 21, 2025 shows a parasitic jaeger appears in a wetland around Kuitun City, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. (Photo by Wang Rui)

The parasitic jaeger is known for its behavior of seizing food from other birds and is called the "sea robber". Research shows that 95 percent of its food during migration is obtained by plundering other seabirds. Of course, they also prey on small rodents, mammals, insects and fish, etc.

Long-term survival in harsh environments has enabled the parasitic jaeger to evolve excellent survival skills. Its streamlined body helps reduce flight resistance, making it fly fast and nimbly. With its superb hunting ability, it can force other seabirds to give up food by attacking and successfully steal them in the air. The nests of parasitic jaeger are usually built in the depressions of coastal grasslands, tundra or wastelands. Once a nest site is selected, they will breed at the same location year after year, laying 1 to 3 eggs per nest. The young birds grow very fast, and they can be fully feathered and leave the nest to be independent in about five weeks.

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