Scottish Wildlife. Arctic Skua.

The Arctic Skua.

The arctic skua is a large seabird about the size of a common gull. Arctic skuas are pirates: chasing other seabirds, such as puffins and terns, and stealing the fish they have caught. It can often be seen flying low and fast over the waves in pursuit of prey and only comes to land to breed. It is known to be very aggressive at its breeding grounds – dive-bombing anyone who gets close to the nest.

Behaviour

The smaller skuas (arctic skua, the smaller long-tailed skua and the larger pomarine skua) are very similar and difficult to tell apart. Adult arctic skuas have two colour phases: a light phase with a white belly and dark back and cap and a dark phase which is uniformly dusky brown. Arctic skuas have two pointed central tail feathers that stick out beyond their main tail and broad white ‘flashes’ on the underside of the wings.

Size

• Length: 44-67cm  (including a tail of up to 8cm)
• Wingspan: 1.2m
• Weight: 450g
• Average Lifespan: 12 years

Status

Classified in the UK as a Red List species under the Birds of Conservation Concern review and as a Priority Species in the UK Biodiversity Action Plan.

Distribution

Nests on moorlands on Scottish islands and in the far north of Scotland: seen around the coasts during spring and autumn migration.