Brown Skuas | What to Know When Visiting Antarctica

Encounters with Antarctic wildlife are a transformative experience for most adventurers. Despite being the coldest continent, the marine wildlife and birds thriving here make Antarctica the perfect place for unforgettable wildlife encounters. 

Among the many avian species found here, one that has gained notoriety for its aggressive predatory instincts is the skua. These birds were able to impress explorers like Roald Amundsen and Robert Scott and continue to surprise researchers and visitors on the white continent.

Intelligent enough to remember individual human faces, the skuas are considered as ruthless predators. However, there are more to these smart hunters than meets the eye.

The two types of skuas

The larger brown skua displays a predominantly brown body, equipped with a sharp falcon-like bill and tiny claws on its webbed feet. Its counterpart, the south polar skua, is smaller with characteristic tan feather highlights and typically exhibits more reserved behavior. 

Both species are formidable predators that patrol the South Shetlands and Antarctic Peninsula from October to March during breeding season. They share similar breeding rituals, establishing territories where they create simple ground nests and take turns incubating eggs while their partner hunts.

How to identify a skua

You will observe two of the seven species of skuas while visiting Antarctica.

Where do skuas live?

Skuas are tenacious globetrotters living in the open ocean, except in the breeding season. In fact, brown skuas have an incredibly long migration route that can stretch to 10,000 kilometres. Their presence historically has reached as far as Greenland but it’s not part of their normal route.

Skuas are well adapted to the harsh conditions of the polar regions. While nesting, they pick islands with ground vegetation. They prefer nesting sites close to the colonies of other birds to ensure a steady supply of food.

Antarctic skua territories

The Antarctic Peninsula and subantarctic regions, including the Falklands and South Georgia Islands, are skua territory. One of their favourite spots in the Antarctic is the South Shetland Islands. The proximity to the sea and the large penguin colonies on the island make it a great breeding ground for skuas.

Seasonal skua problems in Antarctica

During the Austral spring, the skuas arrive in Antarctica, hungry after a long overseas trip. Being intelligent and intrepid, they often use desperate tactics for the much-needed food.

To the residents of the McMurdo station, skuas are not just predators, but “tiny pirates with feathers and wings.” They can dive-bomb from the sky to snatch away food that a resident might be carrying outside. In one situation, skuas blocked the runaway near a station, creating a problem for the landing aircraft.

Antarctic skua facts

Highly opportunistic, the skuas take advantage of inexperienced penguin parents squabbling over nesting materials and steal the eggs and even chicks. But, by being ruthless predators, they play a bigger role in the Antarctic ecosystem.

Skuas play an important role in maintaining the ecological balance in Antarctica by feeding on the seabird population. Being the ever-present threat, they ensure that only the strongest and the fittest among the penguin population survive to grow as adults.

Another interesting Antarctic fact is that they play the role of “cleaners” by feeding on dead animals. This helps prevent the spread of diseases.

Planning your trip to Antarctica

While penguins are a prime attraction among the animals of Antarctica, a vast number of other seabirds play a key role in the continent’s polar ecosystem. Like most other creatures on the continent, these birds are susceptible to environmental change.

Considering the fragility of Antarctica’s ecosystem, it is necessary to pick an Antarctic cruise that focuses on low-impact tourism and environmental sustainability. Make sure that you are aware of the environmental guidelines and follow the instructions of your guides at all times during a journey.

Visit Antarctica with Secret Atlas

An exploration of the frozen beauty of Antarctica with Secret Atlas is an authentic encounter with nature with a small group of like-minded explorers. Our wildlife and photography expeditions do not follow a set itinerary, making it easier for the guests to explore the remote corners of the white continent.

Get in touch to learn more about our upcoming Antarctica voyages.