Arctic Skua

Arctic Skua

Taxobox
name = Arctic Skua
status = LC
status_system = IUCN3.1


regnum = Animalia
phylum = Chordata
classis = Aves
ordo = Charadriiformes
familia = Stercorariidae
genus = "Stercorarius"
species = "S. parasiticus"
binomial = "Stercorarius parasiticus"
binomial_authority = (Linnaeus, 1758)

The Arctic Skua, "Stercorarius parasiticus", known as the Parasitic Jaeger in North America, is a seabird in the skua family Stercorariidae.

This species breeds in the north of Eurasia and North America, with significant populations as far south as northern Scotland. It nests on dry tundra, higher fells and islands, laying up to four olive-brown eggs. It is usually silent except for newing and wailing notes while on the breeding grounds. Like other skuas, it will fly at the head of a human or fox approaching its nest. Although it cannot inflict serious damage, it is a frightening and painful experience. It is a migrant, wintering at sea in the tropics and southern oceans.

In the British Isles, they breed in Shetland and Orkney, the Outer Hebrides, Sutherland, Caithness, and some islands in Argyll.

This bird will feed on lemmings and other rodents on the breeding grounds, but also robs gulls and terns of their catches. Like the larger skua species, it continues this piratical behaviour throughout the year, showing great agility as it harasses its victims.

Identification of this skua is complicated by its similarities to Long-tailed Skua and Pomarine Skua, and the existence of three colour phases. This is one of the smaller skuas at about 41 cm length, excluding the pointed central tail feathers of the summer adult, which can add another 7 cm or so. Light phase adults have a brown back, mainly white underparts and dark primary wing feathers with a white "flash". The head and neck are yellowish-white with a black cap and there is a pointed central tail projection. Dark phase adults are dark brown, and intermediate phase birds are dark with somewhat paler underparts, head and neck. All phases have the white wing flash.

Juveniles are even more problematic, and are difficult to separate from Long-tailed Skua over the sea. They are bulkier, shorter-winged and less tern-like than that species, but show the same wide range of plumage variation. The flight is more falcon-like. However, they are usually warmer toned than Long-tailed, with browner shades, rather than grey.

References

* Database entry includes justification for why this species is of least concern
*
*

External links

* [http://www.rspb.org.uk/birds/guide/a/arcticskua/index.asp RSPB A to Z of UK Birds]


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Look at other dictionaries:

  • Arctic skua — smailiauodegis plėšikas statusas T sritis zoologija | vardynas atitikmenys: lot. Stercorarius parasiticus angl. Arctic skua vok. Schmarotzerraubmöwe, f rus. короткохвостый поморник, m pranc. labbe parasite, m ryšiai: platesnis terminas – tikrieji …   Paukščių pavadinimų žodynas

  • arctic skua — noun a variety of jaeger • Syn: ↑parasitic jaeger, ↑Stercorarius parasiticus • Hypernyms: ↑jaeger • Member Holonyms: ↑Stercorarius, ↑genus Stercorarius * * * …   Useful english dictionary

  • Arctic skua — noun A seabird, Stercorarius parasiticus, of the skua family (Stercorariidae) …   Wiktionary

  • Skua — Taxobox name = Skuas image caption = Pomarine Skua image width = 250px regnum = Animalia phylum = Chordata classis = Aves ordo = Charadriiformes familia = Stercorariidae familia authority = Gray, 1871 genus = Stercorarius genus authority =… …   Wikipedia

  • skua — [ skju:ə] noun a large predatory seabird, chiefly brown, which pursues other birds to make them disgorge fish. [Catharacta skua (great skua), Stercorarius parasiticus (Arctic skua), and related species.] Origin C17: mod. L., from Faroese skúvur,… …   English new terms dictionary

  • skua — /skyooh euh/, n. 1. Also called bonxie. any of several large brown gull like predatory birds of the genus Catharacta, related to jaegers, esp. C. skua (great skua), of colder waters of both northern and southern seas. 2. Brit. jaeger (def. 1).… …   Universalium

  • Arctic Tern — Taxobox name = Arctic Tern status = LC status ref = [IUCN2006|assessors=BirdLife International|year=2004|id=49262|title=Sterna paradisaea|downloaded=11 May 2006 Database entry includes justification for why this species is of least concern]… …   Wikipedia

  • Pomarine Skua — Taxobox name = Pomarine Skua status = LC status system = IUCN3.1 regnum = Animalia phylum = Chordata classis = Aves ordo = Charadriiformes familia = Stercorariidae genus = Stercorarius species = S. pomarinus binomial = Stercorarius pomarinus… …   Wikipedia

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  • Long-tailed Skua — Taxobox image size =230px name = Long tailed Skua status = LC | status system = IUCN3.1 regnum = Animalia phylum = Chordata classis = Aves ordo = Charadriiformes familia = Stercorariidae genus = Stercorarius species = S. longicaudus binomial =… …   Wikipedia

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