Photo: Francisco Ardini/PNRA / CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons)

Least Concern

Shorebirds

South Polar Skua

Stercorarius maccormicki

South Polar Skua (Stercorarius maccormicki) — Shorebirds, Gulls & Auks of Antarctica.

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The South Polar Skua (Stercorarius maccormicki) is a member of the Stercorariidae family found in Antarctica. Adults weigh 1.3 kg. The IUCN Red List lists it as Least Concern.

Conservation status

IUCN Red List

LC Least Concern

Widespread and abundant — not currently at risk.

Where it fits

Class Aves
Order Charadriiformes
Family Stercorariidae Skuas
Genus Stercorarius
Species maccormicki

Where it lives

Coastal Antarctica, especially Ross Sea; also South Shetland and South Orkney is. (off Antarctic Pen.)

Antarctica

Quick facts

Weight: 1.3 kg
Diet: Aquatic hunters
Family: Stercorariidae
Order: Charadriiformes
Habitat: Wetland, lake & coast

How to identify

Similar birds

Least Concern

Biology & behaviour

Diet

The South Polar Skua hunts aquatic prey such as fish and aquatic invertebrates.

Behaviour

A bird of open sea and coastal waters, it is highly aerial, spending much of its time on the wing.

Migration

The South Polar Skua is migratory, making regular seasonal journeys between its breeding and non-breeding ranges.

The South Polar Skua (Stercorarius maccormicki) is a member of the Stercorariidae family, within the order Charadriiformes. It occurs naturally across Antarctica. Its distribution covers AN coastal Antarctica, especially Ross Sea; also South Shetland and South Orkney is. (off Antarctic Pen.).

It is a very large bird. Adults weighs around 1.3 kg, with a wing length of about 38.7 cm and a tail of around 13.5 cm.

The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.

Songs & calls

South Polar Skua — Call

Recorded by steve Licence: CC BY-SA 4.0

Frequently asked questions

How big is the South Polar Skua?

The South Polar Skua is a very large bird that weighs around 1.3 kg.

Where does the South Polar Skua live?

The South Polar Skua is found across Antarctica with a range covering AN coastal Antarctica, especially Ross Sea; also South Shetland and South Orkney is. (off Antarctic Pen.), where it is associated with wetlands, lakes and other open water.

What family does the South Polar Skua belong to?

The South Polar Skua (Stercorarius maccormicki) belongs to the Stercorariidae family, in the order Charadriiformes.

What does the South Polar Skua eat?

The South Polar Skua hunts aquatic prey such as fish and aquatic invertebrates.

Does the South Polar Skua migrate?

The South Polar Skua is migratory, making regular seasonal journeys between its breeding and non-breeding ranges.

Is the South Polar Skua endangered?

The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.

What sound does the South Polar Skua make?

1 real field recording of the South Polar Skua — including its call — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.