Brown Skua vs South Polar Skua
Catharacta antarctica compared with Catharacta maccormicki
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Brown Skua | South Polar Skua |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Catharacta antarctica | Catharacta maccormicki |
| Order | Charadriiformes | Charadriiformes |
| Family | Stercorariidae | Stercorariidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 80.3 cm (31.6 in) | 77.4 cm (30.5 in) |
| Weight | 1591.6666666666667 g (56.14 oz) | 1315.0 g (46.39 oz) |
| Diet | -- | -- |
| Clutch Size | 2 | 1-2 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Conservation Status
Least Concern
Brown Skua
Least Concern
South Polar Skua
About These Birds
Brown Skua
Brown Skua, 52–64 cm, is a powerful sub-Antarctic predator breeding on islands from the Falklands to New Zealand's subantarctic islands. Dark brown throughout; massive hook-tipped bill. Predates penguin and petrel chicks; piracy and scavenging common. Winters at sea across the Southern Ocean.
South Polar Skua
South Polar Skua, 50–55 cm, breeds on the Antarctic continent — one of the world's most southerly breeding birds, recorded at the South Pole. Strong migratory; winters in the North Pacific and North Atlantic, crossing the equator. Polymorphic; feeds on penguins, fish, and krill. Circumglobal migration.