Panama skua - new photos (1 Viewer)

[Kratter]

I posted regarding this skua a few weeks back. It is still here (in Bocas del Toro on the Caribeban coast of Panama) and yesterday I was able to get better photos. No doubt that it is a skua (as opposed to a jeager in the American sense). Bill looks fairly long, but not really massive. I expect that it is a South Polar Skua, but would like to receive opinions from you. Its plumage is very tattered.

Here is a link to the photos:
http://www.pbase.com/kratter/panama_skua
_http://www.pbase.com/kratter/panama_skua_
<http://www.pbase.com/kratter/panama_skua>

I have only rudimentary references at hand, but the only Caribbean skua record I can find is of a Great Skua from Belize.

Many thanks,
Andy Kratter

 

[rob stoff]

you'll be lucky to get beyond 'not a Jaeger' I fear!

Rob

 

[AStevenson]

I fear Rob may be right, although it does look smaller rounder head than the local great skuas here, which is potentially a pointer to SP skua as is the plain dark head if it not an immature (hard to say from the tattered plumage) - adult great skuas have a fairly obvious capped head, imms can be plain!, so your hunch may be right but.....you'd really need better photos to sort this one out for sure.

Olsen & Larsson's Skuas & Jaegers lists records off riniad, French Guiana and the West Indies, as well as regular records off the Pacific cost of Costa Rica and Mexico.

Cheers,
Andrew

 

[Kratter]

A few more shots wer obtained 21 June> Go to

Here is a link to the photos:
http://www.pbase.com/kratter/panama_skua
_http://www.pbase.com/kratter/panama_skua_
<http://www.pbase.com/kratter/panama_skua>


Many thanks,
Andy Kratter

 

[Frogdoondey]

Hola:
We have had some SP Skuas before in the Gulf of Panama. I will pass the link with pictures to some other local birdwatchers for their evaluation. After checking the Sibley's I think you are rigth.
Thanks