What does the great skua eat?

Why is the great skua so aggressive?

The Great skua is invading pirates of the sea, intentionally harassing large birds like gannets to steal free food. It easily kills and eats small birds like puffins. Great skua is very timid – anyone who gets close to the nest will be bombarded repeatedly by an angry adult.

What is the difference between Skua and pomarine skua?

The long-tailed skua is a medium-sized seabird. It is the size of a black-headed gull, with slim wings and long delicate tail streamers. The pomarine skua is a large seabird, nearly as big as a herring gull. It has long spoon-shaped tail streamers.

How to identify an immature Skua?

The unusual leg-colouring of immature skuas, with dark feet and tibia contrasting with light tarsus, is not seen on breeding individuals except on Long-tailed Skua S. longicaudus. The great variation in plumage makes identification of immature skuas difficult but close birds should not give too many problems. It is important

What is the difference between great skua and pomarine skua?

On Arctic Skua (as well as Long-tailed S. longicaudus), the arm is obviously narrower than the length of the tail; on Pomarine, it is slightly narrower to slightly broader; on Great Skua S. skua, it is obviously broader.

What is the bill colour of pomarine skua?

The bill of Pomarine Skua is stated by Kemp to be brown with a dark tip, whereas Arctic has a blue-grey bill with a dark tip. The bill colour of Pomarine is difficult to judge, but typically is very pale and could have a bluish cast.

How do you identify a long tailed skua?

This is a classic young Long-tailed Skua, an identification that can also be confirmed by its dark grey-brown and white plumage which lacks any obvious ‘warm’ or rusty hues. Note also that, in comparison with the preceding Arctic Skua, the undertail covert barring is strikingly strong and regular (Ben Lascelles).

What does a pomarine skua bird look like?

Typical juvenile Pomarine Skua gives a generally dark grey-brown impression, with barred underparts and cinnamon or buff tips to the upperparts feathers. The head is drab grey-brown and is far less likely to show a light buff hindneck than in the case of Arctic: usually, only a lighter grey wash is present.

How did the great skua evolve from a hybrid?

Many ornithologists now believe either that the great skua originated as a hybrid between the pomarine skua and one of the southern-hemisphere species, presumably as a result of vagrancy or migration across the equator by the southern species, or that the pomarine skua evolved from hybridization of the great skua and one…

What is the difference between pomarine skua and arctic skua?

Prominent dark streaking on the head and neck is typical for Arctic and never present on Pomarine, which instead tends to be lightly barred. The bill of Pomarine Skua is stated by Kemp to be brown with a dark tip, whereas Arctic has a blue-grey bill with a dark tip.

Do pomarine skua attack birds?

Piratical flight by Pomarine Skua is common as short bouts, but, because of this species’ heavy weight, it is not very successful. Pomarine does, however, attack more directly than the two smaller species, and such chasing often includes direct assaults on the seabird victim.

Is the Norfolk skua a pomarine?

The dark head and barred underparts thus further confirm the identity of the Norfolk skua as a Pomarine. Prominent dark streaking on the head and neck is typical for Arctic and never present on Pomarine, which instead tends to be lightly barred.

What does the bill of a pomarine parrot look like?

The basal two-thirds of the bill of juvenile Pomarine is light (with a bluish or sandy brown tone), contrasting sharply with the blackish tip. Arctic usually has an all-dark bill, but sometimes shows a pale base.

Can you help us identify skuas passing offshore in summer?

Identifying skuas passing offshore in late summer is one of the great challenges of bird ID. There are clues to help us, however, and – with practice – most individuals can be identified.

What is the difference between pomarine skua and long tailed skua?

Long-tailed skua is more tern-like with more buoyant flight and relies more on surface feeding. Pomarine skua has slower, more direct flight with heavier wing beats, resembling a larger gull. The similar-sized Kermadec petrel also has dark, light and intermediate plumage forms, white wing flashes, and is thought to mimic foraging skuas.

Where can I find pomarine skuas?

This bird species has different identifying features depending on sex/age/season. In spring, it is best to look for pomarine skuas from seawatching place on the English south coast, Outer Hebrides and Shetland. In autumn, they are best looked for from seawatching places on North Sea coasts. * This map is intended as a guide.

Where to see pomarine skuas in the UK?

In spring, it is best to look for pomarine skuas from seawatching place on the English south coast, Outer Hebrides and Shetland. In autumn, they are best looked for from seawatching places on North Sea coasts. * This map is intended as a guide.

Where can I find a skua in the UK?

It shows general distribution rather than detailed, localised populations. The arctic skua arrives at its breeding grounds in April and leaves in July. Look for it offshore in spring and especially in late summer and early autumn when it is migrating along western and eastern shores of the UK, with passage continuing into November.

Can you help redstart Edmund Fellowes identify skuas?

Redstart. Edmund Fellowes Support our important work and you could be a winner. Identifying skuas passing offshore in late summer is one of the great challenges of bird ID. There are clues to help us, however, and – with practice – most individuals can be identified.

When is the best time of year to see Arctic skua?

The arctic skua arrives at its breeding grounds in April and leaves in July. Look for it offshore in spring and especially in late summer and early autumn when it is migrating along western and eastern shores of the UK, with passage continuing into November.

When does a skua Stercorarius pomarinus moult?

Pomarine Skua Stercorarius pomarinus, moulting to first-summer plumage, Ivory Coast, February or March 1983 (E.J. Mackrilt). Note pale hindneck on Pomarines); and the general impression is of a rather greyish-brown plumage, never showing the rusty colour of juvenile Arctic and Pomarine.

What is a long-tailed skua?

The long-tailed skua is a medium-sized seabird and our smallest skua. It is the size of a black-headed gull, with slim wings and long delicate tail streamers.

What is the difference between Arctic skua and pomarine skua?

Pomarine Skua at range appears somewhat ‘heavier’ than Arctic, an impression created by a broad body, rather rotund belly and broad innerwings. Feeding is done with a direct attack rather than a prolonged aerial chase.

When is the best time to see pomarine skuas?

You can see pomarine skuas between late April and May, and between August and November.