Page 207 - Complete Birds of Britain and Europe (DK - RSPB)

SKUAS, GULLS,AND TERNS
Order Charadriiformes Family Stercorariidae Species Stercorarius longicaudus
Long-tailed Skua narrow dark
wings
thick-necked
grey-brown upperwings black cap shape
with very thin pale flash

dark grey-brown
trailing above ADULT
edge
(SUMMER)
ADULT white breast brown
(SUMMER) body
IN FLIGHT

dark belly
broad
very long, pale bars
whip-like under tail
central tail
spike JUVENILE
ADULT (DARK FORM)
(SUMMER)
his is usually the
Trarest of the smaller
skuas, with occasional large
numbers moving north in a few
days in spring off western headlands FLIGHT: direct flight light, erratic, often lifting
and small numbers over longer periods in autumn, briefly before dropping to sea.
especially in the North Sea. In its breeding areas in the far
north, it is very bold and may even perch on people’s heads.
It flies low and easily, rather tern-like, and rarely chases other
seabirds. Like some other birds that feed mostly on lemmings
in summer, its numbers (and hence its breeding success) vary
from year to year according to the lemming population.
Unlike the Arctic Skua, it does not have a dark form when
adult, but juveniles are very variable.
VOICE Wailing gull-like squeal and high alarm notes in
summer; silent at sea.
NESTING Hollow on ground in tundra or on high
mountains; 2 eggs; 1 brood; June. AGRESSIVE ADULT
FEEDING Eats mostly lemmings, voles, and small birds in Breeding birds fly around intruders, calling loudly, their flexible
summer; at sea, feeds on offal and fish, mostly self-caught. tail spikes very obvious.
SIMILAR SPECIES OCCURRENCE
Breeds in N and W Norway and
POMARINE SKUA extreme N Sweden. Migrates
breast-band broader wings;
see p.203 through North Sea, around Western
Isles of Scotland and off W Spain
thick and Portugal in brief spring
tail
movement of adults in flocks and
paler belly
more prolonged autumn passage.
larger Seen in the UK
ARCTIC SKUA
see p.204 JF M A M J J AS O N D
Length 35–41cm (14–16in) Wingspan 1.05–1.12m (3 1 ⁄2 –3 3 ⁄4ft) Weight 250–450g (9–16oz)
Social Small flocks Lifespan Up to 10 years Status Secure†
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