Habitat
Nests in arctic and alpine tundra, often far from sea. In northern Alaska, prefers tussock-heath tundra dominated by cotton sedge (Eriophorum vaginatum; Maher 1974). In southwest Yukon and presumably south Alaska, breeds in alpine tundra dominated by shrubs and sedges (Price 1969). In northern and central Yukon, commonly nests on rolling open tussock tundra in areas with wet sedge, as well as Dryas terraces (Alexander et al. 2003). Most often in well-drained upland areas, also in dry tundra in low-lying areas; nest usually on mound or hummock (Johnson and Herter 1989).
References
Alexander, S. A., F. I. Doyle, C. D. Ecker, H. Grünberg, N. L. Hughes, M. Jensen, I. Johnson, D. H. Mossop, W. A. Nixon, and P. H. Sinclair. 2003. Birds of the Yukon Territory (P. H. Sinclair, W. A. Nixon, C. D. Eckert, and N. L. Hughes, eds.). UBC Press, Vancouver, B.C.
Johnson, S. R. and D. R. Herter. 1989. The Birds of the Beaufort Sea. BP Exploration (Alaska) Inc., Anchorage, AK. 372 pp.
Maher, W. K. 1974. Ecology of Pomarine, Parasitic, and Long-tailed jaeger s in northern Alaska. Pacific Coast Avifauna 37.
Price, L. W. 1969. Nesting of the Long-tailed jaeger in southwest Yukon Territory – an extension of the known breeding grounds. Can Field-Nat. 83: 138-141.
