Brown Skua
A species of Jaegers, Also known as Subantarctic Skua Scientific name : Stercorarius antarcticus Genus : Jaegers
Brown Skua, A species of Jaegers
Also known as:
Subantarctic Skua
Botanical name: Stercorarius antarcticus
Genus: Jaegers
Content
Description
Photo By Francesco Veronesi , used under CC-BY-SA-2.0 /Cropped and compressed from original 
Description
This is the heaviest species of skua and rivals the largest gulls, the great black-backed gull and glaucous gull, as the heaviest species in the shorebird order although not as large in length or wingspan. It is 52–64 cm (20–25 in) in length, 126–160 cm (50–63 in) in wingspan and has a body mass of 1.2–2.18 kg (2.6–4.8 lb). S. a. hamiltoni measured on Gough Island, weighed an average of 1.43 kg (3.2 lb) in 9 males and 1.65 kg (3.6 lb) in 9 females. S. a. lonnbergi measured in the Chatham Islands weighed an average of 1.73 kg (3.8 lb) in 30 males and an average of 1.93 kg (4.3 lb) in 32 females. The latter is one of the highest colony mean body mass for any living species of shorebird. A study in 2016 reported that brown skuas can identify individual human beings, possibly indicating high cognitive abilities. Brown skuas have been noted for sometimes bonding with humans who live for extended periods in Antarctica, such as the Eastern Orthodox clergymen at Trinity Church, and engaging in playful or apparently mischievous behavior with them. 
Size
64 cm
Life Expectancy
28.8-29 years
Feeding Habits
Brown Skua predominantly preys on seabirds like prions and petrels, as well as scavenges penguin eggs and carcasses. Its diet includes zooplankton, squid, and fish. Brown Skua employs varied foraging methods and uniquely consumes seal afterbirth and milk.
Habitat
Brown Skua predominantly resides in marine environments, specifically around subantarctic islands. These regions are characterized by an abundance of burrow-nesting seabirds and penguin colonies, providing ample food resources. Brown Skua favors undisturbed landscapes, often settling in locations devoid of human activity but may be drawn to scientific research stations as alternative food sources. Their breeding territories are diverse, including grassy areas, gravel, or bare rock, and could be used for breeding alone or both breeding and feeding. Brown Skua adapts its territorial range according to its needs, which may also include separate feeding territories.
Dite type
Scavenger
Scientific Classification
Phylum
Chordates Class
Birds Order
Shorebirds Family
Skuas and jaegers Genus
Jaegers Species
Brown Skua 
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