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Kenya, Skua (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter rafnuss
- Start date
RafaelMatias
Unknown member
It's obviously a skua (genus Stercorarius), I don't understand the above comment. It's a bit tricky, but I'd say Pomarine skua is ruled out on structure. My best guess is Arctis Skua: the last pic (#10) shows a relatively extensive wing flash (though not very obvious), extending to P5 at least, which would rule out Long-tailed.
RafaelMatias
Unknown member
It seems to have a very old (unmoulted) outer primary (the one that seems "white", and appears to be moulting some other feather tracts. The primary flash (here showing as a subdued one) is more extensive than 2 primaries.
Separated by a common language....
Arctic, Pomarine and Long Tailed Skuas are called Jaegers here in the US.
Andy Adcock
Worst person on Birdforum
Regardless of the differing names, what else could an American think 'Skua' reffered to?
Edwin Sapatsch
Well-known member
Skua
It's the metal thing you pierce lumps of meat onto when barbecuing a Shish kabab
I'll get my coat...............
It's the metal thing you pierce lumps of meat onto when barbecuing a Shish kabab
I'll get my coat...............
I have to agree that I don't see a skua in this. The deep chesty appearance, white belly and rump remind me of Sooty Gull. I would guess an immature as it doesn't look clean enough for an adult. From experience in the Middle East and East Africa, lone birds can look very much like skuas on first glance.
birdboybowley
Well-known member.....apparently so ;)
Certainly looks like a skua to me
jogresh
Bimble and patch
Maybe Great, South Polar, Brown etc?
Edwin Sapatsch
Well-known member
I think 'Muppit17' has it....very close in every way including the dark bib & distinct pale/white rump.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sooty_gull#/media/File:Larus_hemprichii_(1).JPG
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sooty_gull#/media/File:Larus_hemprichii_(1).JPG
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Agree with that.
RafaelMatias
Unknown member
it seems Sooty Gull is a better fit.
Mark Lew1s
My real name is Mark Lewis
I think this is a skua and although it's probably impossible to be certain, there's a lot going for it for long-tailed skua.
I'm struggling to find any pics of Sooty gull with such a neat dark breast band and paler head, whereas this is quite often seen on long-tailed skua - see http://wwwsapphirepelagics.blogspot.com/2018/07/1st-summer-long-tailed-skua.html
Doesn't sooty gull have dark underwings in all ages? The pale underwing looks better for a skua.
The jizz looks fine for LTS, with the deepest part of the chest level with the forewing, tapering into a very svelte rear end
The primary flashes look bang on for LTS - I'm seeing white in the shaft area restricted to the outer few primaries, and none anywhere else.
I'm struggling to find any pics of Sooty gull with such a neat dark breast band and paler head, whereas this is quite often seen on long-tailed skua - see http://wwwsapphirepelagics.blogspot.com/2018/07/1st-summer-long-tailed-skua.html
Doesn't sooty gull have dark underwings in all ages? The pale underwing looks better for a skua.
The jizz looks fine for LTS, with the deepest part of the chest level with the forewing, tapering into a very svelte rear end
The primary flashes look bang on for LTS - I'm seeing white in the shaft area restricted to the outer few primaries, and none anywhere else.
Andy Adcock
Worst person on Birdforum
I had my doubts about it being a Skua from the start but, being the shrinking violet that I am, was not confident to voice my opinion on such a shot but it's interesting to see the swings in the debate.
Hotspur
James Spencer
That's pretty convincing, I cant see it as Sooty Gull, I haven't seen that species make these sort of shapes although my experience has been from a flattish Red Sea. I think its a small stercorarius sp. and can buy into what you are saying.
Andy Adcock
Worst person on Birdforum
Whereas I'm struggling to find images of a Skua with a white uppertail / rump, I'm in the Sooty Gull camp, purely on that. If you consider the quality of the shots and the distance, the breast and under parts, also look good to me for the Gull.
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lou salomon
the birdonist
immature small skua for me too (arctic or long-tailed but leaning towards LTS), basically on pale underwings but also structure and the fact that immature Stercorarius do have pale based barred upper tail coverts which at distance and in such shots can appear pure white.
