Skuas are medium to large birds, typically with grey or brown plumage, often with white markings on the wings. [6] The skuas range in size from the long-tailed skua, Stercorarius longicauda, at 310 grams (0.68 pounds), to the brown skua, Stercorarius antarcticus, at 1.63 kg (3.6 lb).

The great skua (Stercorarius skua), sometimes known by the name bonxie in Britain, is a large seabird in the skua family Stercorariidae. It is roughly the size of a herring gull. It mainly eats fish caught at the sea surface or taken from other birds.

Jun 23, 2024 · Skuas are a group of seabirds belonging to the family Stercorariidae. They are known for their aggressive behavior and kleptoparasitic feeding habits, often stealing food from other seabirds. When identifying skuas, several criteria can be considered: Size and Shape: Skuas are medium to large seabirds with a robust build.

Skuas are mid-sized gull-like birds with brown or gray plumage and white wing markings. Their longish bills are hooked at the tip with a fleshy cere above the upper mandible. They have webbed feet with sharp, albeit small, claws. Unlike gulls, skua females are larger than the males.

Aug 14, 2019 · Old Great Skua There was a time when South Polar Skuas were meant to be strikingly pale, almost white from the distance. At this time, this old Great Skuas attracted some attention. However, we now know Great Skuas tend to become paler with age, leading to some funny blondie colorations.

Bulky, powerful, with wide wings, thick neck. Dark brown with white wing flash. Very much like South Polar Skua, but head and body typically all dark with heavy pale stripes. A harsh hah-hah-hah-hah; various quacking and croaking notes. Open ocean. Except during breeding season, usually far offshore, out of sight of land.

Bulky cold-brown seabird with white wing flashes. Usually seen singly in strong and direct flight, sometimes resting on the ocean with rafts of shearwaters. Chases gulls, large shearwaters, and even boobies, forcing them to regurgitate their food.

May 27, 2024 · Learn all there is to know about this intimidating group of birds, including where you can find them, how they eat, and how they defend their nests. Skuas are found on the sea coasts of all continents. They are long-distance migrants, …

Mar 24, 2023 · Skuas (Stercorariidae) are seabirds with a wide range of physical characteristics. They have long wings, webbed feet and sharp beaks; the tail shape is variable across species. Their plumage can vary from greyish brown to black or even white in some species.

Great Skuas, with their scientific name Stercorarius skua, are formidable seabirds, roughly the size of a herring gull. They have a robust build and sport a predominantly dark plumage with striking white wing flashes visible in flight.