Pomarine Skua - Courtesy of Wikipedia
The Pomarine Skua (Stercorarius pomarinus), is a seabird in the skua family Stercorariidae. It is a migrant, wintering at sea in the tropical oceans.
Description[]
Identification of this skua is complicated by its similarities to Arctic Skua and the existence of three morphs. Pomarine Skuas are larger than Common Gulls. They are much bulkier, broader-winged and less falcon-like than Arctic Skua, but show the same wide range of plumage variation. The flight is more measured than that of the smaller species. It has many harsh chattering calls and others which sounds like which-yew.
Light-morph adult Pomarine Skuas 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. Dark morph adults are dark brown, and intermediate morph birds are dark with somewhat paler underparts, head and neck. All morphs have the white wing flash, which appears as a diagnostic double flash on the underwing. In breeding adults of all morphs, the two central tail feathers are much longer than the others, spoon-shaped, and twisted from the horizontal. Juveniles are even more problematic to identify, and are difficult to separate from Arctic Skua at a distance on plumage alone.
Behaviour[]
Breeding[]
This species breeds in the far north of Eurasia and North America. It nests on Arctic tundra and islands, laying 2-3 olive-brown eggs in grass lined depressions. Like other skuas, it will fly at the head of a human or other intruder approaching its nest. Although it cannot inflict serious damage, the experience is frightening and painful.
Feeding[]
This bird feeds on lemmings, other rodents, offal, scraps, small birds and also robs gulls, terns and even Gannets of their catches; it will also kill birds up to the size of Common Gull. Like most other skua species, it continues this piratical behaviour throughout the year, showing great agility as it harasses its victims. Only the White-tailed Eagle and the Golden Eagle are known to take adult, healthy Pomarine Skuas.