The Skua - A Unique Bird of Prey

I have never been able to go on a Antarctic trip so I have never seen a South Polar Skua. I was recently reading the book "Living on the Wind - Across the Hemisphere With Migratory Birds" by Scott Wiedensaul when I came across a reference to this bird. In this book Wiedensaul quotes Robert Cushman Murphy:

"Skuas have left, he said a more vivid impression in my memory than any other bird I have met. The skuas look and act like minature eagles. They fear nothing, never seek to avoid being conspicuous, and, by every token of behavior, they are lords of the far south. In effect, they are gulls that have turned hawks."

That descriptive statement "lords of the far south" caught my eye. As all good education does, it changed my perspective - I was not aware of the dominance of this bird in this ecosystem.






South Polar Skua (Stercorarius Maccormicki), Telephone Bay, Deception Island, Antarctica Photographic Print

Pitamitz, Sergio


12 in. x 9 in.

Buy at AllPosters.com

Framed Mounted








South Polar Skua (Stercorarius Maccormicki), Telephone Bay, Deception Island, Antarctica Photographic Print

Pitamitz, Sergio


12 in. x 9 in.

Buy at AllPosters.com

Framed Mounted




This seems like a memorable bird that would be interesting to see someday.








Sunrise Over Iceberg, Macrobertson Land, Mawson, Antarctica Photographic Print

Dixon, Grant


24 in. x 18 in.

Buy at AllPosters.com

Framed   Mounted



For More Information:

Skuas - Antarctic Wildlife