Great Skua

Stercorarius skua

Great Skua

Quick Facts

Classification

Scientific name:

Stercorarius skua

Family:

Skuas

Conservation status:

Amber

Measurements

Length:

53cm to 58cm

Wingspan:

125cm to 140cm

Weight:

1.2kg to 2kg

Other birds in the Skuas family

About the Great Skua

The great skua is a rather crafty bird that harasses birds as large as gannets to steal food off to feed on. They are known to be aggressively natured and will kill and eat smaller birds - this includes puffins!

Great skuas aren't fearful when it comes to humans, and if you find yourself near their nests, you will often be dive-bombed by the angry adult.

From afar, they look dark but up close display whites and browns.

What does a Great Skua eat?

Their diets mainly consist of other birds, fish and carrion.

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Other birds in the Skuas family

Pomarine Jaeger

Pomarine jaegers, or as pomarine skuas as they are known in the UK, are large seabirds that breed in the Arctic Circle, where they survive on a diet of lemmings. Winters are spent at sea, foraging for fish in tropical ocean waters.