Skua ? (1 Viewer)

[oguenaydin]

Hi,

is This a Skua,

Mersin Türkiye 19.12.2019

 

[THE_FERN]

For sure. It looks superficially like great Skua but I don't think it can be with that thin beak.

My best guess is dark phase Arctic because of the extent of white in the wings (doesn't extend to the inner primaries) and lack of obvious barring in the vent area. If not that then pomarine

 

[oguenaydin]

For sure. It looks superficially like great Skua but I don't think it can be with that thin beak.

My best guess is dark phase Arctic because of the extent of white in the wings (doesn't extend to the inner primaries) and lack of obvious barring in the vent area. If not that then pomarine

You compared what I said to three different birds, and yes, I agree it's one of the three.

 

[THE_FERN]

You compared what I said to three different birds, and yes, I agree it's one of the three.

Actually I gave my best suggestion as to which it is and explained why. I used "skua" in the English/British sense (i. e. Includes what Americans call "Jaegers")

 

[PYRTLE]

Structurally, apart from bill size, as The Fern states, it looks like a Great Skua. An Arctic, even with either a full crop or belly would exhibit longer slimmer wings? New inner primaries after post juvenile moult, perhaps. Will have to look at references for the undertail / vent barring of 1st winter Skuas. Good set of images, by the way.

 

[Butty]

New inner primaries after post juvenile moult, perhaps . . .1st winter Skuas . . .

Moulting flight-feathers indicates adult (unless skuas have an unusual moult-scheme).

 

[CARERY]

Arctic Skua - elongated and pointed central rectrices, fairly weak bill, rather reduced white at the base of the primaries...