Brown skua facts for kids
The brown skua (Stercorarius antarcticus) is a large seabird. It is also known by names like the Antarctic skua or southern skua. In the Māori language, it is called hākoakoa. These birds live and breed in cold, southern parts of the world, like the subantarctic and Antarctic regions. When it's not breeding season, they fly further north.
The brown skua's family tree is a bit complicated. Some scientists think it's one species, while others believe it might be two or three different types. For example, some suggest there are the Falkland skua, Tristan skua, and subantarctic skua. It can also mix with other skua types, like the south polar skua.
Quick facts for kids Brown skua |
|
|---|---|
 |
|
| At Godthul, South Georgia | |
| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Stercorarius
|
| Species: |
antarcticus
|
| Subspecies | |
|
S. a. antarcticus – (Lesson, 1831) |
|
| Synonyms | |
|
Catharacta antarctica |
|
What Brown Skuas Eat
.jpg)
Brown skuas are skilled hunters and scavengers. They eat many different things. Often, they steal fish from other birds, a behavior called kleptoparasitism. They also hunt penguin chicks and other seabirds. Small mammals, eggs, and dead animals (called carrion) are also part of their diet.
About the Brown Skua
The brown skua is the heaviest type of skua. It is as heavy as some of the largest gulls, like the great black-backed gull. This makes it one of the heaviest birds in the shorebird group.
Brown skuas are usually between 52 to 64 centimeters (about 20 to 25 inches) long. Their wingspan can be from 126 to 160 centimeters (about 50 to 63 inches). They weigh between 1.2 and 2.18 kilograms (about 2.6 to 4.8 pounds).
For example, brown skuas on Gough Island weighed about 1.43 kg (3.15 lb) for males and 1.65 kg (3.64 lb) for females. Birds from the Chatham Islands were even heavier. Males averaged 1.73 kg (3.81 lb) and females 1.93 kg (4.25 lb). These weights are among the highest for any living shorebird species.
A study in 2016 found something very interesting. Brown skuas can actually tell individual human beings apart. This suggests they might be very smart birds.
People who live in Antarctica for a long time have noticed something special. Brown skuas sometimes form bonds with them. For example, they have been seen playing or acting a bit mischievous with the Eastern Orthodox priests at Trinity Church.
See also
In Spanish: Págalo subantártico para niños
