(Alternativ name, scientific name, GSearch amended to allow for this. Reference updated) |
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'''Alternative names: Southern Skua, Subantarctic Skua, Antarctic Skua, Falkland Skua''' | '''Alternative names: Southern Skua, Subantarctic Skua, Antarctic Skua, Falkland Skua''' | ||
| + | [[Image:Southern_Skua.jpg|thumb|550px|right|Photo by {{user|zweiblumen|zweiblumen}}<br />East Cove, [[Falkland Islands]], 2004]] | ||
;[[:Category:Stercorarius|Stercorarius]] antarctica<br /> | ;[[:Category:Stercorarius|Stercorarius]] antarctica<br /> | ||
''Stercorarius antarcticus'' | ''Stercorarius antarcticus'' | ||
| − | |||
==Identification== | ==Identification== | ||
| − | Size: 52-64 cm, wing 35.5-40.2 cm, wingspan 126-160 cm, females on average are larger in most measurements, most noticeably in wing length. | + | [[Image:12761Catharacta antarctica.jpg|thumb|350px|right|Displaying<br />Photo by {{user|Rodrigo+Tapia|Rodrigo Tapia}}<br />Ardley Peninsula, King George Island, South Shetland Archipelago, Antarctica, January 1992]] |
| + | Size: 52-64 cm (20½-25¼ in), wing 35.5-40.2 cm, wingspan 126-160 cm, females on average are larger in most measurements, most noticeably in wing length.<br /> | ||
| + | Nominate subspecies | ||
| + | *Brown overall plumage, variable from light to dark | ||
| + | *Pale streaking above | ||
| + | *Dark cap (often reduced to a mask in light morph birds) | ||
| + | ====Variations==== | ||
| + | Other races are larger, darker and less streaked above. | ||
==Distribution== | ==Distribution== | ||
| − | |||
[[Falkland Islands]] and southern [[Argentina]] from Chubut to Tierra del Fuego. | [[Falkland Islands]] and southern [[Argentina]] from Chubut to Tierra del Fuego. | ||
==Taxonomy== | ==Taxonomy== | ||
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====Subspecies==== | ====Subspecies==== | ||
There are 3 subspecies<sup>[[#References|[1]]]</sup>: | There are 3 subspecies<sup>[[#References|[1]]]</sup>: | ||
| − | *''antarcticus'' breeds in the [[Falkland Islands]], and south-east [[South America]] | + | *''S.a. antarcticus'' breeds in the [[Falkland Islands]], and south-east [[South America]] |
| − | *''hamiltoni'' breeds on Tristan da Cunha and Gough Island | + | *''S.a. hamiltoni'' breeds on Tristan da Cunha and Gough Island |
| − | *''lonnbergi'' on the [[Antarctic Peninsula]] and around e.g., [[New Zealand]]. | + | *''S.a. lonnbergi'' on the [[Antarctic Peninsula]] and around e.g., [[New Zealand]]. |
The subspecies ''lonnbergi'' has been treated as a full species ''Stercorarius lonnbergi'' by some authorities.<sup>[[#References|[2]]]</sup> | The subspecies ''lonnbergi'' has been treated as a full species ''Stercorarius lonnbergi'' by some authorities.<sup>[[#References|[2]]]</sup> | ||
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Scavenger at refuse tips, predates penguin eggs and chicks and burrow nesting seabirds at night. | Scavenger at refuse tips, predates penguin eggs and chicks and burrow nesting seabirds at night. | ||
==References== | ==References== | ||
| − | #{{Ref- | + | #{{Ref-Clements6thAug17}}#Avibase |
| + | #BF member observations | ||
| + | #Handbook of the Birds of the World Alive (retrieved May 2018) | ||
{{ref}} | {{ref}} | ||
==External Links== | ==External Links== | ||
*[http://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?t=63072&highlight=skua+australia This thread discusses both identification and taxonomy of different Skua species and subspecies]<br /> | *[http://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?t=63072&highlight=skua+australia This thread discusses both identification and taxonomy of different Skua species and subspecies]<br /> | ||
| − | {{GSearch| | + | {{GSearch|Skua+antarctic}} |
[[Category:Birds]] [[Category:Stercorarius]] | [[Category:Birds]] [[Category:Stercorarius]] | ||
Revision as of 23:33, 12 May 2018
Alternative names: Southern Skua, Subantarctic Skua, Antarctic Skua, Falkland Skua
- Stercorarius antarctica
Stercorarius antarcticus
Identification
Displaying
Photo by Rodrigo Tapia
Ardley Peninsula, King George Island, South Shetland Archipelago, Antarctica, January 1992
Photo by Rodrigo Tapia
Ardley Peninsula, King George Island, South Shetland Archipelago, Antarctica, January 1992
Size: 52-64 cm (20½-25¼ in), wing 35.5-40.2 cm, wingspan 126-160 cm, females on average are larger in most measurements, most noticeably in wing length.
Nominate subspecies
- Brown overall plumage, variable from light to dark
- Pale streaking above
- Dark cap (often reduced to a mask in light morph birds)
Variations
Other races are larger, darker and less streaked above.
Distribution
Falkland Islands and southern Argentina from Chubut to Tierra del Fuego.
Taxonomy
This species has been placed in the genus Catharacta with the other large skuas (Sibley & Monroe, 1993; Clements, 2000).
Older texts and some current field guides will treat Brown Skua as a part of Great Skua.
Subspecies
There are 3 subspecies[1]:
- S.a. antarcticus breeds in the Falkland Islands, and south-east South America
- S.a. hamiltoni breeds on Tristan da Cunha and Gough Island
- S.a. lonnbergi on the Antarctic Peninsula and around e.g., New Zealand.
The subspecies lonnbergi has been treated as a full species Stercorarius lonnbergi by some authorities.[2]
Habitat
Pelagic. Inland (during breeding season)
Behaviour
Breeding
Oct-Nov onwards, on flat grassy areas or short grass heaths. Nest is an unlined or sparsely so, scrape. 1-2 eggs, incubated 28-32 days, young leave nest within 1-2 days and fledge in 40-50 days. Sexual maturity at six years.
Diet
Scavenger at refuse tips, predates penguin eggs and chicks and burrow nesting seabirds at night.
References
- Clements, J. F., T. S. Schulenberg, M. J. Iliff, D. Roberson, T. A. Fredericks, B. L. Sullivan, and C. L. Wood. 2017. The eBird/Clements checklist of birds of the world: v2017, with updates to August 2017. Downloaded from http://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/download/
- Avibase
- BF member observations
- Handbook of the Birds of the World Alive (retrieved May 2018)
Recommended Citation
- BirdForum Opus contributors. (2024) Brown Skua. In: BirdForum, the forum for wild birds and birding. Retrieved 28 April 2024 from https://www.birdforum.net/opus/Brown_Skua
