The south polar skua is a large, stocky gull-like bird that is 19-21 inches (48.2–53.3 cm) in length with a wingspan of 4-4.6 feet(1.2–1.4 m).
It has a dull brownish-gray body with white patches on its outer wings. It has a thick neck, a short, broad tail, a thick, hooked, black bill, and black legs. Males and females look alike.
Except for during the breeding season, the south polar skua lives on the open ocean.
The south polar skua eats fish, krill, squid, carrion (dead animals), and the eggs and chicks of seabirds. It may also follow ships at sea and eat garbage that is thrown overboard.
The south polar skua is also a kleptoparasite. That means it steals food from other birds. South polar skuas will chase terns and other birds and tug on their wings and tails, making them release their catch.
The female south polar skua lays 1-2 eggs in a depression in the ground, usually located in a sheltered area like a rocky outcropping or a cliffside. The eggs hatch in about 24-34 days. The south polar skua sometimes nests in colonies.
The south polar skua has a lifespan of around 24 years.
The south polar skua sometimes chases and harasses other birds to force them to drop their catches.
The south polar skua is featured in the animated movie Happy Feet. Four south polar skuas harass the penguin Mumbles.
Support for NatureWorks is provided by:
The south polar skua breeds in Antarctica.
Sometimes, younger skua migrate into the Atlantic and Pacific Ocean areas of the Northern Hemisphere during the Southern Hemisphere’s winter season.
