Antarctic Skua

The Brown Skua , also known as the Antarctic Skua, Southern Great Skua, Southern Skua, or Hākoakoa , is a seabird that breeds in the sub-Antarctic and Antarctic zones and moves further north when not breeding. Its taxonomy is highly complex and a matter of dispute, with some splitting it into two or three species: Falkland Skua , Tristan Skua , and Subantarctic Skua . To further confuse, it hybridizes with both the South Polar and Chilean Skuas, and the entire group have been considered subspecies of the Great Skua, a species otherwise restricted to the Northern Hemisphere. It feeds on fish , small mammals, scraps, chicks, eggs and carrion.

The Antarctic Skua is classified as Least Concern. Does not qualify for a more at risk category. Widespread and abundant taxa are included in this category.

The south polar or Antarctic skua is also known as McCormick More

Antarctic skuas breed on most of the southern islands and may be distributed as far north as the subtropics, while South Polar skuas occur primarily on the Antarctic continent, although sightings have been recorded as far north as Greenland and the Aleutian Islands. South Polar skuas are often seen following ships at sea. In winter after the breeding season, both skua species migrate northward spending most of their time at sea. More

Antarctic skuas / Cape pigeons / American Sheathbill / Antarctic tern = Antarctic penguin fact file | Adélie penguins | Chinstrap penguins | Emperor penguins | Gentoo penguins | King penguins Antarctic Animal Adaptations | Krill | How penguins survive the cold | Weddell Seals | Antarctic Fur Seal | Southern Elephant Seal | Other birds | Albatross | Snow Petrel | Whales Animals Info Pictures: Emperor penguin pictures 2 3 4 | Buy Penguin pictures | Buy Emperor penguin pictures More

The Antarctic skua (Catharacta maccormicki) is the size of a largish gull. They nest all around continental antarctica and breed into the deep south. They are excellent fliers and have occasionally been sighted deep in the interior hundreds of miles from anything other than ice. More

Pictures of the swimming Antarctic Skua (Catharacta antarctica) far of the coast and flying over the open sea = Subantarctic Skuas (Catharacta Antarctica) are Antarctic birds. They feed on fish, cancers, octopus, birds More

The Antarctic Skua at Stromness Harbour An Antarctic or Brown Skua shares the beach with some Gentoo Penguins. A Gentoo walking to the sea passes the Skua. More

Above is the Antarctic Skua, which is an aggressive bird that hunts it's prey. They are known for raiding colonies and attacking baby penguins, earning their nickname, 'raptor of the south'. On the left is Antarctica's wild side; a giant petrel eating a baby penguin. While the petrel was eating several other penguins gathered around and would chase the petrel away, but he would always return. The giant petrel is the largest of the almost 100 different species of petrels. More

gulls and antarctic Skuas and will reveal the importance of glaciation on population genetic structure and past speciation events. Funded by DFG (Pe 454/13). Recent skua publications (pdf's on request) Ritz, M.S., Millar, C., Miller, G.D., Phillips, R.A., Ryan, P., Sternkopf, V., Liebers-Helbig, D., Peter, H-U. (2008) Phylogeography of the southern skua complex – rapid colonisation of the southern hemisphere during a glacial period and reticulate evolution. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 49: 292-303 Janicke T., S. Hahn,M.S. More