skuas

Skua is the common name for large seabirds in the family Stercorariidae, comprising several species in the genus Stercorarius. The three most widely recognized are the great skua (Stercorarius skua), Arctic skua (Stercorarius parasiticus), and pomarine skua (Stercorarius pomarinus). The long-tailed jaeger (Stercorarius longicaudus) is closely related and sometimes treated in the same group.

Description and range: Skuas are robust seabirds with stout bodies, strong legs, and hooked bills. They fly powerfully with long, pointed wings. Plumage is mostly dark brown or grayish, with pale patches in some species; the great skua is particularly large. They breed on tundra and coastal regions of the Northern Hemisphere and Southern Ocean, often on remote islands and cliffs, and many migrate to warmer seas in winter.

Behavior and diet: Skuas are opportunistic feeders, eating fish, squid, small birds, and carrion. They are notable kleptoparasites, harassing other seabirds to force them to surrender food. They defend nesting colonies aggressively and perform aerial displays during courtship.

Breeding: They nest on the ground in colonies. Eggs are usually olive-brown with blotches. Incubation lasts about 25-30 days; chicks are downy and fledge after several weeks, with parental care lasting several months.

Conservation: Overall, skua populations are stable in many areas, but some subspecies face pressures from habitat disturbance, climate change, and fisheries that alter prey availability. They are monitored on several breeding grounds and are listed by conservation bodies accordingly.