Page 204 - Complete Birds of Britain and Europe (DK - RSPB)

SKUAS, GULLS,AND TERNS
Order Charadriiformes Family Stercorariidae Species Stercorarius skua
Great Skua long, broad wings
taper to point
dark cap
bold white
patch on pale brown to
outer wings cream streaks on
neck and mantle
ADULT streaked dark brown
upperparts stout,
hooked
dark bill
IN FLIGHT

uniformly dark
underparts (juveniles
often blacker)
ADULT
he largest, heaviest, thick blackish
legs
Tboldest, and most
predatory skua, the
Great Skua is literally
hair-raising near the nest
as it zooms in at head-
height at intruders. It has ADULT
increased greatly in recent
years, to the detriment of some
other seabird species. In most of
western Europe it is a migrant (to and
from Africa) in spring and autumn, best seen
from headlands in periods of strong onshore FLIGHT: low, direct, heavy, with slow wingbeats;
winds. Usually it is less numerous than the chase fast, rather brief.
Arctic Skua in such circumstances. It
accompanies gulls and Gannets in flocks
around trawlers, and at coastal freshwater
lakes in its breeding areas in the north.
VOICE Barking uk-uk-uk, deep tuk-tuk;
silent at sea.
NESTING Simple hollow on ground on
moorland; 2 eggs; 1 brood, May–June.
FEEDING Steals fish from other seabirds
up to size of Gannet; kills many birds up FLASHING WING PATCHES
to size of Kittiwake; eats much offal, Great Skuas display on their breeding grounds,
carrion, and eggs. showing off their bold white wing patches.
OCCURRENCE
SIMILAR SPECIES Breeds from Scotland northwards,
on islands and remote moors and
less white smaller hills. Widespread off W European
on wing
slimmer coasts and out at sea in spring and
autumn; sometimes brought
closer inland by gales and often
less
uniform passing longer headlands in any
coloration long tail long weather. Rare in winter.
tail
HERRING GULL immature; ARCTIC SKUA POMARINE SKUA Seen in the UK
see p.209 see p.204 see p.203 J F M A M JJ A S O N D
Length 50–58cm (20–23in) Wingspan 1.25–1.4m (4–4 1 ⁄2ft) Weight 1.2–2kg (2 3 ⁄4 –4 1 ⁄2lb)
Social Small flocks Lifespan 10–20 years Status Secure
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