South Polar Skua
A species of Jaegers Scientific name : Stercorarius maccormicki Genus : Jaegers
South Polar Skua, A species of Jaegers
Botanical name: Stercorarius maccormicki
Genus: Jaegers
Content
Description People often ask General Info
Photo By Ana Nascimento/Agência Brasil , used under CC-BY-3.0-BR /Cropped and compressed from original 
Description
The south polar skua is a large bird (though small compared to other skuas sometimes placed in Catharacta) that measures around 53 cm (21 in) in length. Adults are greyish brown above, and have a whitish (pale morph) or straw-brown (intermediate morph) head and underparts, and the contrast between head and body makes it easy to separate from similar species with good views. Juveniles and adult dark morphs are harder to distinguish from their relatives, and more subjective or difficult-to-observe criteria, such as the colder brown plumage and blue bill base, must be used. 
Size
53 cm (21 in)
Life Expectancy
23.5 years
Nest Placement
Ground
Feeding Habits
South Polar Skua primarily feeds on fish, other birds, and rabbits. These birds are opportunistic and also consume carrion. They employ varied hunting techniques, including kleptoparasitism, to obtain meals.
Habitat
South Polar Skua's habitat is predominantly marine and pelagic, thriving in the frigid environments of the Antarctic and Southern Ocean. They breed on snow-free zones, often near penguin rookeries or inland petrel colonies, and occasionally in snow-free mountainous areas. In winter, they stay pelagic, feeding at sea.
Nest Behavior
The south Polar Skua generally starts nest building through the male, which is then completed by the female. They exhibit fidelity to mate and nest sites, usually breeding at 5-6 years of age. Egg-laying follows a courtship of posturing and calling, accompanied by the male feeding the female. Parental care involves aggressive displays and calls for nest protection.
Nest Characteristics
South Polar Skua's nest is typically a simple scrape in the soil or moss, on the ground with no elaborate construction materials used. It is often located near penguin colonies if available, and has a basic size and shape without distinctive features.
Dite type
Scavenger
People often ask
General Info
Feeding Habits
Bird food type
Behavior
Like other skuas, it flies at the head of a human or other intruder approaching its nest.
Distribution Area
It breeds on Antarctic coasts, usually laying two eggs in November and December. It is a migrant, wintering at sea in the Pacific, Indian, and Atlantic Oceans. In the eastern North Atlantic, it is replaced by the great skua. South polar skuas have been seen at the actual Geographic South Pole. Megalestris Hill, on Petermann Island in the Wilhelm Archipelago of Antarctica, is named after an obsolete generic name for the south polar skua.
Photo By Ana Nascimento/Agência Brasil , used under CC-BY-3.0-BR /Cropped and compressed from original 
Scientific Classification
Phylum
Chordates Class
Birds Order
Shorebirds Family
Skuas and jaegers Genus
Jaegers Species
South Polar Skua 
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