Key information
The great skua is an aggressive pirate of the seas, deliberately harassing birds as large as gannets to steal a free meal. It also readily kills and eats smaller birds such as puffins. Great skuas show little fear of humans - anybody getting close to the nest will be repeatedly dive-bombed by the angry adult. These birds migrate to the northernmost isles of the UK from their wintering grounds off the coasts of Spain and Africa. At a distance they look stout and dark and show white wing flashes in flight.
What they eat:
Fish, carrion, other birds.
Measurements:
- Length:
- 53-58 cm
- Wingspan:
- 125-140 cm
- Weight:
- 1.2-2 kg
Population:
- UK breeding:
- 9,634 pairs
Identifying features:
Great skua
