Birda Logo
Features
Birda+
About
Species Guide
Challenges
Shop
loading...
A photo of a Brown Skua (Stercorarius antarcticus)
Brown Skua

Brown Skua

Stercorarius antarcticus

The brown skua, known scientifically as Stercorarius antarcticus, is a formidable seabird of the subantarctic and Antarctic realms. It is also referred to by various names including the Antarctic skua, subantarctic skua, southern great skua, southern skua, or hākoakoa in Māori. This species is the heaviest of the skuas and is comparable in mass to the largest gulls, boasting a body weight that can reach up to 2.18 kilograms.

Identification Tips

Adult brown skuas are characterized by their robust build, with a length ranging from 52 to 64 centimeters and a wingspan extending from 126 to 160 centimeters. They exhibit a dark brown plumage overall, which can appear almost black in certain lighting conditions. Their powerful flight is accompanied by broad wings and a relatively short tail.

Habitat

The brown skua breeds in the harsh environments of the subantarctic and Antarctic zones, where it is well-adapted to the cold and often inhospitable conditions.

Distribution

Outside the breeding season, these birds venture further north, though their movements are not as extensive as some other migratory species.

Behaviour

Brown skuas are known for their assertive nature, particularly when it comes to defending their territory and offspring. They have also been observed to exhibit a remarkable ability to recognize individual humans, suggesting a high level of cognitive ability. In some cases, they have been known to form bonds with humans who spend extended periods in their Antarctic habitat, engaging in playful and sometimes seemingly mischievous interactions.

Song & Calls

The vocalizations of the brown skua are typically harsh and guttural, serving as a means of communication between individuals, especially during the breeding season.

Breeding

The breeding habits of brown skuas involve nesting in the remote and less accessible areas of the subantarctic and Antarctic regions. They are diligent parents, aggressively defending their nests against potential threats.

Similar Species

The brown skua's taxonomy is complex, with some experts proposing it be split into separate species. It can hybridize with the south polar and Chilean skuas, and has been considered a subspecies of the great skua in the past.

Diet and Feeding

The diet of the brown skua is diverse, including fish, which they often obtain through kleptoparasitism, penguin chicks, other seabirds, small mammals, eggs, and carrion. Their opportunistic feeding strategy allows them to thrive in their challenging environment.

Conservation status

Currently, the brown skua is listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List, indicating that, at present, it does not face any immediate threat of extinction on a global scale.

App logo
Birda is a birdwatching app and community aimed at curious people who want to deepen their connection with nature.

Brown Skuas on Birda

Photos
Sightings

More Skuas

A photo of a Chilean Skua (Stercorarius chilensis)

Chilean Skua

Stercorarius chilensis
Birda Logo

Your birdwatching journey like never before

Connect with nature in minutes
Take a walk, look out of the window and log the birds that you see. Feel good about those little connections to nature.
Discover the joy of birding
Find new birding spots, see more birds, share and celebrate with a like-minded community of nature lovers.
Play your part in saving nature
Logging your birding sightings and sessions turns into positive action for our planet. Every sighting counts.

Birda Blog

What Our Birders Say
Paul F
Very good database
Highly recommend. It great that this app shows you male Vs female variations when posting. Very good database I'm really impressed.
BCHphotography_
Such a great app!
I didn’t think I could enjoy birding more but this app makes it so much better. Some great features and a really great way to share your sightings with your friends or fellow birders nearby or around the world! ❤️
Dunners12345
Great App
Great app to use for logging and communicating with others who are interested in birds
Sacha0508
Simply fantastic
I love this app, it puts so much fun into recording the birds I’ve seen and heard while I’m out and about. The interface is user-friendly and suitable for all ages. It’s great to collect badges and to review my “lists”.
Nicole
Gets me outdoors more
I'm still loving this app. I use it most days & gets me outdoors more. Enjoying watching others progress and photo's, it's improved my wellbeing.... I love this app! I can keep a record of sightings and see what others have seen too.
David C
Very knowledgeable group
Nice friendly birding community. Very knowledgeable group with a willingness to help.
Alice J
Awesome Birding Community
I absolutely love the community aspect of this app. The app is so user friendly and has fun interactive challenges to get you out birding. I’ve tried others but since I’ve started using Birda I’ve not gone back!
JCBirding
Just what birding needs
We need more fun in birding, for years it has had a reputation for being up tight and stuffy and only perused by retirees and anoraks. Birda helps change that perception and firmly brings birding into the 21st century! Fun, interactive while still contributing to science and conservation. If you aren’t on it, why not??
Jake W
Great app
I use this app all the time as it’s quick and easy to log individual sightings or whole birding sessions. It’s an excellent way to meet new people and the forum is full of really friendly people. The challenges are a great way to get involved and learn more about birds. Cannot recommend it enough!
SuperOliviaGirl
Really great app
It’s easy to use and it’s fun to log the birds you notice on a walk or just in your garden. There’s a option to record the birds you see in a session which is really nice. Good excuse to stop for a while and just watch birds. I am also enjoying the information part where you can find out fact about birds from all over the world.
As featured in
Birda Logo
AboutPressAmbassadorsAffiliatesInfluencersCareersPrivacyTerms & Conditions
An app for birdwatchers
Connect with us
Copyright © 2024 Chirp Birding. All rights reserved.