🐦
Great Skua
Catharacta skua
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Least Concern
Wingspan
78.9 cm
Weight
1370.0 g
Family
Stercorariidae
Order
Charadriiformes
About
Great Skua, 50–58 cm, wingspan 125–140 cm, is a powerful pirate of the North Atlantic, breeding in Iceland, Faroe Islands, and Scotland. Dark brown with white wing flashes. Attacks gannets and kittiwakes to steal fish; also kills other seabirds outright. Winters pelagically in the Atlantic.
Physical Description
| Measurement | Value | Imperial |
|---|---|---|
| Wingspan | 78.9 cm | 31.1 in |
| Weight | 1370.0 g | 48.33 oz |
Habitat & Range
Conservation Status
Least Concern
IUCN Red List
Behavior & Breeding
Nesting
Nest type: SC. Incubation: 28-32 days. Fledging: 40-50 days.
Clutch Size
1-2
Taxonomy
| Kingdom | Animalia |
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Aves |
| Order | Charadriiformes (Shorebirds & Gulls) |
| Family | Stercorariidae (Skuas & Jaegers) |
| Genus | Catharacta |
| Species | Catharacta skua |
External Databases
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Great Skua endangered?
The Great Skua has a conservation status of Least Concern.
How does the Great Skua nest?
Nest type: SC. Incubation: 28-32 days. Fledging: 40-50 days.
How big is the Great Skua?
The Great Skua has a wingspan of 78.9 cm, weight of 1370.0 g.
What order and family does the Great Skua belong to?
The Great Skua (Catharacta skua) belongs to the order Charadriiformes and the family Stercorariidae.
Similar Birds
Other species in the Stercorariidae family
Arctic Jaeger
Stercorarius parasiticus
Least Concern
Brown Skua
Catharacta antarctica
Least Concern
Chilean Skua
Catharacta chilensis
Least Concern
Long-tailed Jaeger
Stercorarius longicaudus
Least Concern
Pomarine Jaeger
Stercorarius pomarinus
Least Concern
South Polar Skua
Catharacta maccormicki
Least Concern