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Brown Skua

Name: Brown Skua sighting at Imperial Cormorant Colony - Isla Tovita
Uploaded: 2026-04-02T10:29:52.223158
Channel: EverydayEarth
Description: A skua rests on the rocky ground in the foreground, occasionally adjusting its posture and looking around the colony. Behind it, a smaller bird walks across the terrain. The background shows a bustling scene at the edge of the ocean, where numerous seabirds are gathered along the waterline as waves crash against the shore.

Stercorarius antarcticus

iNaturalist eBird Wikipedia

Fierce, intelligent, and strikingly bold, the Brown Skua is the undisputed pirate of the southern oceans. Whether defending its territory or outmaneuvering other seabirds for a meal, this 'Antarctic raptor' is a marvel of subantarctic survival.

2 Sightings

1 Habitats

Quick Identification

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Size

Length: 52–64 cm (20–25 in); Wingspan: 126–160 cm (50–63 in); Weight: 1.2–2.1 kg (2.6–4.6 lb)

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Colors

Overall dark cinnamon-brown with pale buff or whitish streaking; conspicuous white patches at the base of the primary wing feathers.

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Key Features

Large, barrel-chested build with broad wings
Heavy, black hooked bill
Bright white 'flashes' on the wings visible in flight
Dark, hawk-like appearance with powerful legs

When You’ll See Them

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Activity pattern Active day and night

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Peak hours Daylight hours (6 AM - 9 PM) during breeding; opportunistic at night near petrel colonies

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Season November-March

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Diet A generalist carnivore; eats penguin eggs and chicks, small petrels, fish, marine invertebrates, and carrion.

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Habitat Breeds on rocky subantarctic islands and coastal tundra; winters in the open ocean and along continental coastlines.

Sightings on EverydayEarth

Imperial Cormorant Colony - Isla Tovita · Chubut

Apr 5, 2026

Several Brown Skuas are foraging and resting on the rocky shoreline of Isla Tova. In the foreground, one skua walks across the frame, while others remain stationary on the left, occasionally turning their heads. In the background, large waves crash against the coast under the fading light of late afternoon.

Imperial Cormorant Colony - Isla Tovita · Chubut

Apr 5, 2026

A Brown Skua is seen standing on the weathered rocks of the shoreline before taking flight. As it flies low across the frame, its large wingspan and white wing markings are clearly visible against the backdrop of the ocean waves.

Imperial Cormorant Colony - Isla Tovita · Chubut

Apr 2, 2026

A skua rests on the rocky ground in the foreground, occasionally adjusting its posture and looking around the colony. Behind it, a smaller bird walks across the terrain. The background shows a bustling scene at the edge of the ocean, where numerous seabirds are gathered along the waterline as waves crash against the shore.

public Geographic range

Where Does the Brown Skua Live?

The Brown Skua is a master of the Southern Hemisphere's most rugged environments, claiming the subantarctic islands and the fringes of the Antarctic continent as its primary breeding grounds. These powerful birds are most commonly found on the Falkland Islands, South Georgia, the Kerguelen Islands, and the southern reaches of New Zealand and Argentina. When the harsh southern winter arrives, they embark on a northward migration that brings them to the coastal waters of Australia, South Africa, and much of South America, where they follow the nutrient-rich cold-water currents of the open ocean.

Basemap © OpenStreetMap contributors

7 Countries

45M km² Range

Least Concern Conservation

AR Argentina CL Chile Falkland Islands NZ New Zealand AU Australia ZA South Africa French Southern and Antarctic Lands

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iNaturalist / Verified observation data

View on iNaturalist open_in_new

Recorded on EverydayEarth

location_on Chubut

2 sightings

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Behavior

The Brown Skua is the apex avian predator of the subantarctic, often referred to as the 'raptor of the seas.' They are exceptionally intelligent and bold birds, showing very little fear of humans. They are famous for their kleptoparasitic behavior, which involves chasing other seabirds like gulls or terns until they vomit their catch, which the skua then maneuvers to catch mid-air. During the breeding season, they become fiercely territorial, and a pair will work together to defend their ground nest from any intruder.

Their social structure is fascinating; they are largely monogamous and return to the same nesting sites year after year. However, they are also highly opportunistic scavengers. Around research stations or fishing vessels, they are quick to learn schedules and can become quite tame, waiting for handouts or unattended food. Despite their aggressive reputation, they provide essential ecosystem services by cleaning up carrion and controlling populations of smaller burrowing petrels.

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Camera Tips

To capture the Brown Skua on a trail camera, focus on high vantage points such as coastal ridgelines, large flat boulders, or even fence posts near shorelines. Skuas are 'perch hunters' and love to sit on elevated spots to survey their territory or watch for nesting penguins. Set your camera at a height of about 3 feet (1 meter), angled slightly upward to catch the bird’s impressive profile against the sky. Because they are curious and intelligent, they are often drawn to new objects; however, they have powerful bills and may peck at the lens or housing, so a rugged, secure mounting system is vital.

While baiting is often restricted in sensitive polar environments, if you are in an area where it is permitted, oily fish scraps or meat trimmings are highly effective at keeping a skua in the frame. These birds are quick—sometimes too quick for standard trail cams—so use a high-speed trigger setting and consider using 'Burst Mode' or 'Photo + Video' to ensure you catch the moment they spread their wings to reveal their distinctive white patches. If you are near a petrel colony, you can even capture nocturnal hunting behavior using high-quality infrared flash, as skuas will hunt by moonlight to snag small birds returning to their burrows.

Lighting is your best friend when photographing these dark-plumaged birds. To avoid a 'black blob' effect, place your camera with the sun at its back to illuminate the cinnamon and buff streaks in their feathers. The golden hours of dawn and dusk in the southern latitudes provide the best contrast. Avoid placing cameras in deep shade or under thick scrub, as the skua's dark brown coloration will blend into the shadows, making it difficult for the AI to distinguish the bird from the background.

Similar Species

Species that look similar or are commonly confused with Brown Skua.

South Polar Skua

Smaller and slimmer than the Brown Skua, often with a paler, more grayish-brown plumage and a less heavy bill.

Chilean Skua

Identifiable by its distinct dark 'cap' and rich cinnamon-colored underwing coverts and belly.

Great Skua

Virtually identical in appearance but lives exclusively in the Northern Hemisphere; they never naturally meet in the wild.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Brown Skuas are primarily diurnal, meaning they are most active during the day, especially in the long daylight hours of the Antarctic summer. However, they are known to be active at night near colonies of nocturnal petrels, where they use their keen eyesight to hunt in the dark.

The best way to attract a Brown Skua is to place your camera on a prominent high point like a rock or post. They are naturally curious and will often land to investigate new objects. In areas where it is legal, fish scraps or animal fats can be used as a scent lure to keep them grounded in front of the lens.

They are generalist predators and scavengers. Their diet includes the eggs and chicks of penguins and other seabirds, adult petrels, fish, marine invertebrates found in the intertidal zone, and carrion from seals or whales.

No, Brown Skuas are rarely found in suburban settings. They are strictly coastal and marine birds, though they may be seen near human settlements in remote areas like the Falkland Islands or near Antarctic research stations where they scavenge for food.

Brown Skuas are generally larger, heavier, and darker with more warm, reddish-brown tones. The South Polar Skua is slightly smaller, often looks 'colder' or grayer in plumage, and typically has a more distinct pale 'collar' around the neck.

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