Brown Skua vs Great Skua
Catharacta antarctica compared with Catharacta skua
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Brown Skua | Great Skua |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Catharacta antarctica | Catharacta skua |
| Order | Charadriiformes | Charadriiformes |
| Family | Stercorariidae | Stercorariidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 80.3 cm (31.6 in) | 78.9 cm (31.1 in) |
| Weight | 1591.6666666666667 g (56.14 oz) | 1370.0 g (48.33 oz) |
| Diet | -- | -- |
| Clutch Size | 2 | 1-2 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Conservation Status
Least Concern
Brown Skua
Least Concern
Great 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.
Great Skua
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.