Great skua (Bonxie)
Stercorarius skua
60.8345, -0.818349
Field Notes
Description:
This is a large skua, measuring 50–58 cm (20–23 in) long with a 125–140 cm (49–55 in) wingspan. The adult is streaked greyish brown, with a black cap, while the juvenile is a warmer brown and unstreaked below. Its tail is short and blunt. The flight is direct and powerful. The Brown Skua's call is a harsh hah-hah-hah-hah; quacking and croaking noises have also been heard.
This bird eats mainly fish, seabirds, eggs, carrion, offal, rodents, rabbits and occasionally berries. It will often obtains fish by robbing gulls, terns and even Northern Gannets of their catches. It will also directly attack and kill other seabirds.
Habitat:
The Great Skua breeds in Iceland, Norway, the Faroe Islands and the Scottish islands, with a few on mainland Scotland. It breeds on coastal moorland and rocky islands, usually laying two spotted olive-brown eggs in grass-lined nests. Like other skuas, it will fly at the head of a human or other intruder approaching its nest. Although it cannot inflict serious damage, such an experience with a bird of this size is frightening.
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