Bird Description

Pelagic and very rare close to shore. Breeds Antarctica. Summer visitor in small numbers, particularly May. The shout of 'Skua' always causes a commotion on pelagic boat trips. Often seen sitting on water. Tends to fly purposefully in a straight line, often above skyline. Usually alone, but attracted to food sources such as fishing boats where there are other birds. ID: Large and bulky with striking wing flashes obvious at great distances. Colors vary. All have contrasting dark underwing coverts and paler nape. Juvs have pale fringes. Older birds molt slowly and have different-aged feathers creating a mottled look. Pale streaks on the upperparts are very difficult to see. Can be confused with dark POJA, but larger, heavy body with short broad tail. Larger wing flashes usually obvious particularly in flight. Dark juv HEGU lack wing flashes, but other than looking slimmer are very similar. See GRSK for differences. Skua taxonomy and ID still evolving. Several summer sightings of very large uniform dark brown skuas with large bills are probably Brown Skua or hybrids -the fun has just begun!