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Alternative names: Arctic Skua, Parasitic Skua

Photo by IanF
Photographed at Cleveland, UK

Stercorarius parasiticus

[edit] Identification

41-48 cm (including tail projection)

• Elongated central tail feathers (just noticeable in juveniles).
• White wing flash
  

Dark Phase and Young are brown apart from the whitish patch near wing tip.

Light Phase have creamy-white underparts, cheeks and neck (barred brown in winter) and a dark cap.

Intermediates have variable amounts of light and dark plumage: some are brown with dark cap, others brown with yellow neck-ring.

[edit] Similar Species

Pomarine Skua, Long-tailed Skua.

IanF Juvenile, Seaton Snook, Cleveland, UK

Terry W Handa Island, Scotland

Tichodroma Iceland

[edit] Distribution

Alaska, Canada, Greenland, Iceland, Scandinavia, and northern Russia.

[edit] Taxonomy

[edit] Habitat

Breeds on dry tundra, higher fells and islands. Otherwise pelagic but close to land.

[edit] Behaviour

Bird Forum thread for jizz and behaviour-based ID tips

[edit] Flight

Rather hawk-like and bouyant. Chases other birds.

[edit] Breeding

Breeds in loose colonies
Up to four olive-brown eggs are laid on the ground.

[edit] Diet

Diet includes lemmings and other rodents. Robs other birds of their fish catch.

[edit] Vocalisation

[edit] References

1. Wikipedia
2. Answers.com
3. Birdwatchers Pocket Guide ISBN 1-85732-804-3
4. Collins Pocket Guide to British Birds 1966
5. Collins Field Guid 5th Edition

[edit] External Links