South Polar Skua (Stercorarius maccormicki)

Bird · GBIF taxon 2481616

South Polar Skua

Stercorarius maccormicki

Also known as MacCormick's Skua, MacCormick's Seabird

South Polar skuas patrol the frozen coasts and open oceans of Antarctica, nesting on bare rock outcroppings near penguin colonies. Highly aggressive scavengers and skilled aerial hunters, they steal fish from other seabirds and rely heavily on penguin eggs and chicks during the austral summer. After breeding, adults undertake extraordinary trans-equatorial migrations, reaching as far north as the North Pacific and Atlantic Oceans.

PolarSeabirdPredatory

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—observations

—countries

—peak records

Least ConcernConservation status

Key facts

Diet & prey

Fish
Penguin Eggs
Penguin Chicks

Predators

Leopard Seal
Killer Whale

ThreatsClimate change, prey displacement, human disturbance

HabitatsAntarctic coastline, pack ice, pelagic oceans

Life span20–30 years

Size / weightNot available

Classification

FamilyStercorariidae
SpeciesStercorarius maccormicki

Range & activity

Range data is not available yet.

Safe observation

Interaction riskLow

Low
Moderate
High
Very high

Why interaction risk is low: Breeding birds aggressively dive-bomb human intruders; maintain a safe distance from nest areas.
What to notice: Identified by a stocky grayish-brown body, pale nape, and bold white patches at the base of the wing primaries.
Support conservation: Keep at least 50 meters from nest sites and avoid disrupting breeding colonies.

Responsible observation

Observation: Give nesting territories a wide berth during the summer, as adults will dive-bomb threats relentlessly.
Pelagic Tours: Watch for them trailing fishing vessels or harassing shearwaters and petrels in open water.

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