The Great Skua, often nicknamed “Bronxie” by locals in the Shetland Islands, is a formidable seabird renowned for its predatory behavior and robust nature. As one of the largest and most aggressive members of the skua family, this bird exhibits a range of fascinating adaptations and behaviors that set it apart from other marine birds.
During the breeding season, the Great Skua adopts a strategy of opportunistic predation, frequently targeting and assaulting other seabirds to obtain food. This behavior, known as kleptoparasitism, involves the skua harassing and sometimes killing smaller birds, such as gannets and gulls, to steal their catch. This ruthless approach to foraging ensures a vital food source for the skua’s own survival and that of its offspring.
Outside of the breeding season, when it is not preoccupied with nesting duties, the Great Skua ventures further offshore, where it scavenges and piratically acquires food from fishing vessels and other seabirds. This adaptability and versatility in feeding behavior highlight the skua’s ability to exploit a variety of food sources in its marine environment.
Despite its reputation as a formidable predator, the Great Skua is also a highly migratory species, undertaking extensive journeys by sea during migration. During the winter months, it can often be observed in flocks several kilometers offshore, where it congregates in areas rich in marine life and fisheries discards.
In terms of habitat preferences, the Great Skua exhibits a preference for nesting on islands with flat terrain and some vegetation cover. These nesting sites provide suitable breeding grounds where the skuas can establish loose colonies numbering in the thousands. This colonial nesting behavior offers benefits such as increased protection from predators and enhanced foraging opportunities in proximity to other seabird colonies.
Distribution
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![](https://res.cloudinary.com/dr0zfbman/images/w_150,h_87,c_scale/f_auto,q_auto:good/v1683663702/WordPress Content/Belize/Belize.jpg?_i=AA)
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![](https://res.cloudinary.com/dr0zfbman/images/w_150,h_87,c_scale/f_auto,q_auto:good/v1683258567/WordPress Content/Faroe-Islands/Faroe-Islands.jpg?_i=AA)
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![](https://res.cloudinary.com/dr0zfbman/images/w_150,h_87,c_scale/f_auto,q_auto:good/v1683208834/WordPress Content/Morocco/Morocco.jpg?_i=AA)
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![](https://res.cloudinary.com/dr0zfbman/images/w_150,h_87,c_scale/f_auto,q_auto:good/v1683174429/WordPress Content/Normay/Normay.jpg?_i=AA)
![](https://res.cloudinary.com/dr0zfbman/images/w_150,h_87,c_scale/f_auto,q_auto:good/v1683166101/WordPress Content/Panama/Panama.jpg?_i=AA)
![](https://res.cloudinary.com/dr0zfbman/images/w_150,h_87,c_scale/f_auto,q_auto:good/v1683174421/WordPress Content/Poland/Poland.jpg?_i=AA)
![](https://res.cloudinary.com/dr0zfbman/images/w_150,h_87,c_scale/f_auto,q_auto:good/v1683177787/WordPress Content/Portugal/Portugal.jpg?_i=AA)
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![](https://res.cloudinary.com/dr0zfbman/images/w_150,h_87,c_scale/f_auto,q_auto:good/v1683174406/WordPress Content/Romania/Romania.jpg?_i=AA)
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Terrestrial / Aquatic
Altricial / Precocial
Polygamous / Monogamous
Dimorphic (size) / Monomorphic
Active: Diurnal / Nocturnal
Social behavior: Solitary / Pack / Herd
Diet: Carnivore / Herbivore / Omnivore / Piscivorous / Insectivore
Migratory: Yes / No
Domesticated: Yes / No
Dangerous: Yes / No