Alternative names: Arctic Skua, Parasitic Skua
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- Stercorarius parasiticus
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
Similar Species
Pomarine Skua, Long-tailed Skua
Distribution
Alaska, Canada, Greenland, Iceland, Scandinavia, and northern Russia.
Taxonomy
Habitat
Breeds on dry tundra, higher fells and islands. Otherwise pelagic but close to land
Behaviour
Jizz and behaviour-based ID tips
Flight
Rather hawk-like and bouyant. Chases other birds
Breeding
Breeds in loose colonies
Up to four olive-brown eggs are laid on the ground
Diet
Diet includes lemmings and other rodents. Robs other birds of their fish catch
Vocalisation
<flashmp3>Stercorarius parasiticus (song).mp3</flashmp3>
Listen in an external program
References
- Wikipedia
- Answers.com
- Birdwatchers Pocket Guide ISBN 1-85732-804-3
- Collins Pocket Guide to British Birds 1966
- Collins Field Guid 5th Edition
