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Arctic Skua

Stercorarius parasiticus

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Fast, agile pirate; pale and dark colour forms.

Species Profile

Amber List (UK); Least Concern (IUCN globally); UK breeding population has declined significantly

Lifespan: 15–20 years in the wild
Size & Weight: 41–46 cm, wingspan 110–125 cm; 330–570 g
Habitat: Breeds on moorland, grassland, and tundra in northern Scotland; winters at sea in Atlantic and Mediterranean waters.
UK Distribution: Summer breeding visitor to northern Scotland (Shetland, Orkney, and Scottish Highlands); passage migrant in spring and autumn along UK coasts; winters in African and South American seas.
Diet: Primarily fish obtained by kleptoparasitism (robbing other seabirds), but also takes small fish, crustaceans, and occasionally small birds and eggs.
Prey: Fish, particularly sand eels and small marine fish; obtained mainly through piracy rather than direct hunting
Predators: Great skuas, golden eagles, and occasionally white-tailed eagles; chicks vulnerable to corvids and foxes
Mating Season: May to August
Breeding: Clutch size of 2 eggs (occasionally 1); incubation period 24–27 days; fledging period 3–4 weeks; single brood per year
Behaviour: Highly aggressive and territorial during breeding season, performing dramatic aerial attacks on intruders. Renowned for kleptoparasitic behaviour, chasing and harassing larger seabirds to force them to drop food. Migratory, with long-distance travels between Arctic breeding grounds and distant wintering areas.

Did You Know?

•Arctic skuas perform extraordinary migrations, travelling from Scottish breeding grounds to winter off the coasts of West Africa and South America—up to 44,000 km annually
•The species exhibits two colour morphs: light phase (pale underparts) and dark phase (entirely dark plumage), with local populations showing different proportions
•Their kleptoparasitic piracy is so efficient that some birds may obtain 95% of their food by robbing other seabirds rather than hunting themselves
•Males and females perform elaborate synchronized aerial displays during courtship, including barrel-rolls and synchronous dives
•Arctic skuas are among the most northerly breeding birds in the UK and face increasing pressure from climate change affecting their Arctic food chains

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