Birds
Brown Skua
Stercorarius antarcticus · also called subantarctic skua
Raiding penguin colonies for eggs and chicks while fiercely defending its own nest against any intruder, including humans, a brown skua is the largest and among the most aggressively opportunistic of all skua species found across the Southern Ocean.
Overview
The brown skua, Stercorarius antarcticus, is a Least Concern seabird native to ocean, polar, and coastal habitat across the Southern Ocean and Antarctic Peninsula. Its position as the largest skua species, its habit of raiding penguin colonies, and its fierce nest defence make it one of the more formidable and ecologically influential predators found among Southern Ocean seabirds.
A predator that lives off everyone else’s effort
Whether stealing a fish from a struggling petrel in mid-air or slipping into a penguin colony to take an unguarded egg, the brown skua has built an entire survival strategy around exploiting the hard work of other seabirds rather than always hunting for itself.
Status
Least Concern, remaining widespread and generally stable across subantarctic islands and the Antarctic Peninsula, benefiting from an opportunistic diet that includes penguin colonies, carrion, and stolen food.
Brown Skua: common questions
What does the brown skua eat?
This species is a carnivore and scavenger, feeding on penguin eggs and chicks raided from nearby colonies, fish, carrion, and food stolen aggressively from other seabirds.
How big is the brown skua compared with other skuas?
This species is the largest of all skua species, with a powerful, heavily built body that suits both active predation on penguin colonies and opportunistic scavenging.
Why does the brown skua attack other birds?
This species frequently practises kleptoparasitism, aggressively chasing other seabirds in flight until they drop or regurgitate their catch, rather than always catching its own food directly.
Is it dangerous to approach a brown skua's nest?
Yes, this species will dive-bomb and strike almost any intruder, including humans, that ventures too close to its nest, one of the most aggressive nest-defence displays among Southern Ocean seabirds.