General

South Polar Skua Dark: Small, gull-like skua that occurs in two color phases. Dark phase adult has a dark brown body and large white patch at base of primaries visible in flight. Bill is dark, thick and heavy; tail is short and broad. Light phase adult has pale gray-brown head and underparts. Sexes are similar. Juvenile of both phases resembles dark phase adult but has thinner bill with gray base and dark tip, and shows less white on wings.

Range and Habitat

South Polar Skua Dark: Nests in Antarctica in sheltered areas adjacent to penguin colonies. Migrates to offshore Pacific and Atlantic coasts of North America. Pelagic, comes ashore only to breed.

Breeding and Nesting

South Polar Skua Dark: One to three yellow, green, or brown eggs marked with purple and brown are laid in a shallow ground depression. Incubation ranges from 24 to 34 days and is carried out by both parents.

Foraging and Feeding

South Polar Skua Dark: Feeds mostly on fish. Sometimes chases other birds to steal food.

Vocalization

South Polar Skua: Utters a gull-like "scoo-ah."

Similar Species

South Polar Skua Dark: Great Skua has heavy streaks on body and wing coverts and red-brown tones.