Great Skua vs Long-tailed Jaeger
Catharacta skua compared with Stercorarius longicaudus
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Great Skua | Long-tailed Jaeger |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Catharacta skua | Stercorarius longicaudus |
| Order | Charadriiformes | Charadriiformes |
| Family | Stercorariidae | Stercorariidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 78.9 cm (31.1 in) | 60.3 cm (23.7 in) |
| Weight | 1370.0 g (48.33 oz) | 315.75 g (11.14 oz) |
| Diet | -- | -- |
| Clutch Size | 1-2 | 1-2 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Conservation Status
Least Concern
Great Skua
Least Concern
Long-tailed Jaeger
About These Birds
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.
Long-tailed Jaeger
Long-tailed Jaeger, 48–53 cm body plus up to 25 cm tail streamers, is the most elegant jaeger, breeding on Arctic and sub-Arctic tundra worldwide. Feeds primarily on lemmings on the breeding grounds; transitions to pelagic planktivore and piscivore on the ocean. Migrates to subantarctic waters — one of the longest migrations.