Head to head
Antarctic Tern vs South Polar Skua
Antarctic Tern
VS South Polar Skua
Both species breed around the Southern Ocean and Antarctica itself, but their feeding styles and travel habits could hardly be more different.
| Antarctic Tern | South Polar Skua | |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific name | Sterna vittata | Stercorarius maccormicki |
| Migration | Stays within the Southern Hemisphere year-round | Migrates as far as the Northern Hemisphere |
| Diet | Small fish and crustaceans | Fish, penguin eggs and chicks, carrion, stolen food |
| Feeding style | Plunge-dives from the air | Aerial piracy and direct predation |
| Notable record | Not documented as holding a comparable record | Recorded closer to the South Pole than any other bird |
| Conservation status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Population trend | Stable | Stable |
| Habitat | Ocean, polar, coastal | Ocean, polar |
Antarctic Tern vs South Polar Skua: common questions
Which one migrates furthest?
The south polar skua migrates furthest, with some individuals travelling as far as the Northern Hemisphere, unlike the Antarctic tern, which remains within the Southern Hemisphere year-round.
Which one has been recorded closest to the South Pole?
The south polar skua holds this record, recorded closer to the South Pole than any other bird species, venturing across the frozen Antarctic interior far from any coastline.
Which one preys on other birds' eggs and chicks?
The south polar skua does this, regularly raiding penguin colonies for eggs and unattended chicks, unlike the Antarctic tern, which feeds mainly on small fish and crustaceans instead.