The skuas / ˈskjuːə / are a group of predatory seabirds with seven species forming the genus Stercorarius, the only genus in the family Stercorariidae. The three smaller skuas, the Arctic skua, the long-tailed skua, and the pomarine skua, are called jaegers in North American English.

South Polar skua facts Basics. Average Weight: 900 - 1600 g, males are usually a little smaller and lighter than females Average Length: 50 - 55 cm, wingspan 130 - 140 cm Breeding Season: Breeds in snow free areas from November to January. Incubation 24 …

The south polar skua (Stercorarius maccormicki) is a large seabird in the skua family, Stercorariidae. An older name for the bird is MacCormick's skua, after explorer and naval surgeon Robert McCormick, who first collected the type specimen.

2018年1月8日 · Here's a rare view of the more tender side of skuas: a parent shields its young chick from the elements while warming it against a patch of bare skin under its wing. The gray-white chicks are sturdy and can walk soon after hatching, but they must be careful of penguins and other skuas alike.

The chicks are precocial and leave nest soon after hatching. Usually, only one chick survives to fledge which occurs at the age of 45-50 days. Young skuas generally reach reproductive maturity and begin to breed when they 5 to 6 years old.

2020年11月16日 · A skua parent looks over its two chicks. It’s unusual for two chick to hatch, and even rarer for both of them to survive to fledging age. Skuas don’t build an actual nest for their offspring—they lay their eggs in specific sites, usually on top of a patch of moss or exposed rock.

2016年3月29日 · New study shows that brown skuas, already known to steal seal milk, also recognize and attack nest-invading humans. By Vicki Croke. Skuas are big seabirds who aren’t afraid to “hit” scientists who...

2024年6月23日 · Skua chicks are precocial, meaning they are born with down feathers and are relatively mobile shortly after hatching. They increase and can flee within a few weeks of hatching, although they may remain dependent on their parents for food and protection for some time.

Arctic skua chicks are precocial which means they are hatched, covered in down and with their eyes open. They must open their eyes while still inside the egg and use their eyes to help them identify how to break through the eggshell. This is a useful survival skill as it allows them to leave the nest very soon after hatching.

Great skua chicks are precocial which means they are born covered in a pale pink/grey brown down and with their eyes open. They can walk almost as soon as they hatch and typically leave the nest 24 to 48 hours after hatching. They stay with their parents for a while learning how to hunt and forage for food. As well as other survival skills ...