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
Algeria
Anguilla
Antigua & Barbuda
Austria
Barbados
Belgium
Belize
Bermuda
Brazil
British Virgin Is.
Bulgaria
Canada
Cape Verde
Colombia
Croatia
Cuba
Cyprus
Czechia
Côte D’ivoire
Denmark
Dominica
Egypt
Faroe Islands
Official estimate
Finland
France
French Guiana
Gambia
Germany
Ghana
Gibraltar
Greece
Greenland
Guadeloupe
Guinea-Bissau
Guinea
Guyana
Hungary
Iceland
Official estimate
Ireland
Official estimate
Israel
Italy
Latvia
Lebanon
Liberia
Libya
Lithuania
Luxembourg
Malta
Martinique
Mauritania
Montenegro
Montserrat
Morocco
Netherlands
Nigeria
Norway
Official estimate
Panama
Poland
Portugal
Puerto Rico
Romania
Russia
Official estimate
Russia
Saint Lucia
Saint Pierre
Saint Vincent
Senegal
Serbia
Sierra Leone
Slovakia
Slovenia
Spain
St. Kitts & Nevis
Suriname
Svalbard
Official estimate
Sweden
Switzerland
Syria
Trinidad & Tobago
Tunisia
Turkey
US Virgin Islands
United Kingdom
United States
VenezuelaAnything we've missed?
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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
